Andrew York: Composer, performer and polymath

By Ross Boissoneau

It’s unlikely that many guitarists have a section on their website devoted to mathematics, but that’s Andrew York for you. The multi-faceted York has distinguished himself through his composing, recording and playing. But his interests are even broader and deeper; a member of the high-IQ organization Triple 9 (think Mensa on steroids), his website includes posts with titles such as “Improving the Accuracy of the Hardy-Ramanujan Asymptotic Partition Formula.”

Still, there’s no reason to be intimidated. In conversation, York is affable and approachable. His music is likewise engaging and melodic, no matter how complex. He’s just curious about – well, everything.

“There are so many things that are interesting,” says York. “As a very small child I was deeply interested in science. Also, history. I’m insatiably curious.

Andrew York (photo by Christine Lang)

“I wanted to follow whatever fascinated me,” he says.

Which fortunately led to guitar, and, he says, beyond. “Once you have that window into music, your brain recircuits itself.”

He appeared on 11 albums with the LAGQ and nearly as many solo discs, , as well as three DVDs, as a soloist on more than ten albums, two available as LPs, and has published a three-volume work on jazz for classical guitarists.

On a typical day he might be notating a score in the morning, making a MIDI file of it, then working on a piece of his own music. That could be writing – he writes music he hears in his head, and then he has to play what he’s written. “I have a new solo piece I just finished, now I have to learn it,” he says.

His varied interests include not only music and science, but gardening and cooking. So, he’s judicious with his time. “There’s the garden, doing weeding – I have multiple projects overlapping.”

While typically considered a classical guitarist, York says his musical interests are as broad as his interests outside music. “I’m genre-non-specific. Classical simply means using the background of maximum efficacy for music. So, you write music that requires it. Good music is a pleasure to play.

“I don’t want to be a ‘classical musician,’” he says. “I’m just a musician who’s well trained in many genres. Twentieth century, pop, jazz, all genres are fair game.” That said, among his favorites are Couperin and Bach. “Always, always Bach.”

The quotes on his website attest to his prominence: “Andrew York’s eclectic writing and playing constitute one of the hippest styles in American classical guitar,” says Guitar Player Magazine. “Elegant and expressive,” lauds Soundboard Magazine. From Fingerstyle Guitar Magazine: “Not only through his performances but through his composing, he is enriching the guitar in ways only future generations will truly understand.”

York plays a number of guitars made by David Daily. “I personally find all his guitars different. They’re all very good,” he says. “I typically endorse La Bella (strings). I use medium hard 2001 series. The basses have extra punch. For the trebles I choose between high density carbon fiber for the second and third (but) not carbon fiber for the first string.”

York says whatever the genre, for him the music has to appeal to him. “Music is all about beauty. My music has to fascinate me.”

Apparently, it fascinates other musicians as well. His music has been and continues to be performed by guitarists the world over, from his old pals in the LAGQ to John Williams, as well as Christopher Parkening and Sharon Isbin, who won a Grammy for Journey to the New World, which included his “Andecy.” York’s compositions have also been arranged for other instruments, even dueling marimbas as shown on the “Featured Artists” section of his website.

York earned degrees from James Madison University and the University of Southern California, and released his first solo album in 1986. A year later York joined the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, replacing founder Anisa Angarola. During his 16 years with the group he toured the world, won a Grammy and was nominated for two others. He is the only alumnus in USC’s history to have received its Distinguished Alumni Award twice, in 1997 as a member of the LAGQ and again in 2003 for his solo music career.

Ross Boissoneau is a regular contributor to Something Else! Reviews, Northern Express and Local Spins. He’s written for the All Music Guide, Jazziz and Progression Magazines, and is a member of the Downbeat Critics Poll.