Andy Fernbach Biog 2024
Little is in the public domain of the background of the ground breaking folk blues guitarist pianist songwriter who came to prominence in mid sixties and made some seminal albums for United Artists/Liberty.
His great uncle Bruno Walter the celebrated conductor – New York and Berlin Philharmonic Orchestras – mentor of Leonard Bernstein, was held up by his parents as a role model and his classical piano studies commenced at 6 years old. Bach preludes and Fugues and Beethoven sonatas were order of the day then exploring the 20th century revolutionaries – Debussy, Stravinsky, Bartok . It wasn’t until a few years later in early sixties that David his older brother who used to frequent Alexis Korners Soho club and bring back to sleepy Bournemouth US imports of Leadbelly and more obscure folk blues artists that started a creative bombshell. Andy had already started playing guitar in parallel with piano and the cross fertilisation between the 2 instruments kicked off . His first live experience was the r&b band Stovepipe no 4 for which he signed in ’64 his first record deal with Qualiton Records -when 16 years old with his brother -& scored a major no1 hit EP in Hungary and Eastern Europe playing Stadiums and concert halls. But this was not to be the direction although invaluable live experience.
Back home soon he was absorbing the wealth of now available American country blues artists and Dylans first outings- plus Thelonius monk, Charles Mingus, Roland Kirk recordings/concerts- contemporary jazz and folk blues to some seemed strange bedfellows but the links were ceaselessly explored and the piano to this day became the feeder of ideas and inspiration to his guitar technique. At the same time he was becoming immersed in lyrics and the poetry of Lorca, Whitman, Bukowski, Kerouac among many which became inspiration for his song output . In mid sixties he made the move to London and music school enriching his Piano technique with help from cutting edge jazz pioneer Stan Tracey, Composer & Bartok colleague Pierre Mosonyi, plus free jazz revolutionary Mel Davis – People Band, and Third Ear Band. For near on 10 years from the age of 20 having now signed his second record deal with US label Liberty/United Artists he played clubs concerts and did the radio shows of the day Peel, Korner, Harris , Raven etc and immersed himself in the new folk scene exchanging ideas and enthusiasm with the likes of his friend and neighbour John Martyn, & Davey Graham while touring with Fred Mc Dowell, John Lee Hooker, Skip James, JoAnn Kelly and many others.
Altered jazz chords and Johnson inspired bottleneck riffs continued to seamlesslessly mell but the scene was not ready for this heady cocktail it seemed. In 1977 he sowed the seeds of what was to become the world renowned Jacob Studios and as well as producing his own music
he became a facilitator for thousands of renowned artists – including Stevie Wonder, Pavarottis biggest albums plus Radiohead, Smiths , Bowie , Cure, Paul Weller etc. Maybe a diversion to his early performing days but the melting pot of ideas was pivotal to where he is today and so it continues to develop.
Catch his latest release in July 2024 on Editions Bluespoet – the new solo live vinyl album -21st Century Penitentiary .Technically a return to the early days – stripped down to basics – no overdubs -no multitrack no digital technology – just vocals/guitar or vocals/piano -self produced recorded mixed direct to 1/2” analogue tape ,with his favourite vintage valve mics. and engineered by the multi grammy award winner Jerry Boys – Buena Vista Social Club, Ali Farka Toure ,Nick Drake, Ry Cooder, REM etc. All original compositions taking jazz folk blues to new boundaries.
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