Andy Sherwood holds a bachelor’s degree in jazz studies from the Ohio State University and a master’s degree in performance from the University of Connecticut. He names Benny Goodman and Pete Fountain as his main influences. In fact, he played and marched two times with Pete Fountain during the Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Before retiring in 2009 with 24 years with the Coast Guard Band, he performed as a featured soloist across the United States as well as Hawaii, Russia, England and Japan. He led the Coast Guard Dixieland Band for 15 years, producing their first Dixieland compact disc entitled, “South,” and led the band on first time appearances at the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee, the Sun Valley Jazz Jamboree, and the Great Connecticut Jazz Festival.
In 1998, Andy Sherwood recorded his first Dixieland Jazz quartet CD entitled, “While We Danced at the Mardi Gras.” In 2007, he released, “Dixieland Clarinet Live!” and in 2009 he release a digital CD entitled, “Dixieland Downtown.” His CDs have sold well on CDBaby.com and have had airplay on several radio stations.
Andy Sherwood’s Jazz Quartet has performed in venues throughout Connecticut including the International Festival of Arts and Ideas in New Haven, the Groton Cabaret concert series, the Milford Jazz concert series, and the Sidedoor Jazz Club in Old Lyme.