Andy Sheppard
Biography
Born Wiltshire 1957. No formal training but has perfect pitch. Joined Bristol-based quartet Sphere & worked with Spirit Level. Lived in Paris working as a street busker & worked with big bands ‘Lumiere’ & ‘Urban Sax’.
In the mid 1980’s he returned to UK forming his own quartet. In 1986 he won best soloist award at Jazz Services/ Schlitz jazz competition, which was televised by the BBC. As a result of the publicity he was offered a record contract by Island’s Antilles label. Has worked with Gil Evans & frequently with George Russell’s Anglo-American Living Time Orchestra formed ‘Soft on the Inside’ big band.
In 1991 he formed Co-Motion, which includes Steve Lodder & Claude Deppa also expands to become Big Co-Motion. His Trio Inclassifiable is with Steve Lodder & Nana Vasconcelos. With Steve Lodder set up Shoddy Music Inc. to handle the composing they do for films & TV. Works frequently with Carla Bley & Steve Swallow & Keith Tippett.