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Andreas Willers
Andreas Willers has gained a reputation as an exceptional guitar player withan incredibly rich stylistic background reaching from blues and jazz toimprovised and New Music. The impressive technical and tonaloptions at his disposal are carried by a great feeling for form and tremenuosemotionalpower. His debut release was a solo recording for the famous FMP label inthe 1980's. He has worked with Paul Bley, Louis Sclavis, David Murray a.m.m.on stage and in the studio. He also works on different forms of improvisedand composed music.
Studied guitar and improvisation with Joe Diorio (at GIT, Los Angeles), JohnAbercrombie and Dave Holland(at Bannf School of Fine Arts, Alberta, Canada) among others. Studiedcomposition in Hamburg. Toughtjazz guitar at HfM Hanns Eisler in Berlin from 1991-96, writes workshoparticles. Freelances as jazz-and improvising guitarist andas composer. Wrote for the Jazz Baltica Ensemble, NDR Radio Bigband,different New Music ensembles, theAndreas Willers Octet and other groups. Continues to perform solo and invarious groups. About 50 releases as a leader, sideman or in cooperative groups for various Europeanlabels including Leo, Enja, Jazzwerkstatt, between the lines, JazzHausMusik,Sound Aspects, FMP a.m.m.
Awards
Several scholarships, commisioned compositions (NDR Bigband, Jazz Baltica, CIO Orchestra Berlin) and awards, namely the SWR Jazzpreis.
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Andreas Willers 7 of 8: The Goldman Variations
by Alberto Bazzurro
Disco composito, felicemente irregolare, questo del sestetto (in un caso settetto) diretto dal sessantatreenne chitarrista tedesco Andreas Willers, con le stimmate dell'opera largamente meditata, fortemente intenzionale, nella concezione così come nel gesto che ne accompagna la messa in pratica. Partenza al fulmicotone nel breve Case of Need" e poi momenti più riflessivi, quasi sfuggenti, ma sempre con quelle nervature intestine che ne testimoniano la grana, lo spessore, l'urgenza creativa. Tutti lavorano ottimamente, sia negli insiemi, mai amorfi ...
read moreUrs Leimgruber - Andreas Willers - Alvin Curran - Fabrizio Spera: Rome-Ing
by Glenn Astarita
These venerable European improvisers tease and taunt the listeners' psyches with free-form minimalist sound-shaping designs and subdued inner-workings with gradual buildups and asynchronous movements, countered by explosive episodes of angst, tinted with creaky sub-motifs. With four lengthy works recorded live in Rome--hence, the album titleAmerican pianist Alvin Curran and Swiss guitarist Andreas Willers incorporate electronics into this otherworldly manifestation of avant-garde frameworks. The players afford themselves plenty of room for discovery and invention while fusing the group ...
read moreAndreas Willers / Urs Leimgruber: Pale White Shout
by Glenn Astarita
Guitarist Andreas Willers (Germany) and saxophonist Urs Leimgruber (Switzerland) are among Europe's most prominent improvisers and free-thinkers. On this outing their experimental metrics are quite rangy and focused, offering the antithesis to a madcap free-form blowing session. The duo alternates between controlled thematic buildups and subdued encounters with polytonal dialogues along with certain parts that elicit notions of exotic birds communicating in a tropical rain forest. Add some bizarre tirades and coiled flurries --abetted by Willers' wily electric guitar effects ...
read moreAndreas Willers: Drowning Migrant
by Glenn Astarita
Berlin-based guitarist Andreas Willers injects a bit of hoodoo voodoo into the realm of solo guitar, complete with effects-drenched overlays. A longtime participant in Europe's avant-garde, progressive jazz and jazz-rock contingent, the artist improvises within fragmented song structures and captivating shifts in strategy. Marked by off-kilter phrasings and guitar tunings, Willers tosses caution to the wind.
Willers implements sliding notes amid hazy dreamscapes while investigating the capabilities of the acoustic and electric guitar. He executes resonating and extended ...
read moreAndreas Willers: Tin Drum Stories - Inspired by the novel Die Blechtrommel' by Gunter Grass
by Glenn Astarita
Guitarist Andreas Willers leads his trio through an impressionistic sojourn based upon and inspired by Gunter Grass’ novel, “Die Blechtrommel’. On Tin Drum Stories, Willers melds deft picking, supple themes and slashing crunch chords with firebrand lead soloing and circuitous developments along with a rhythm section, seemingly bent on employing refreshingly abstract ways and means of expressing cadence and flow.
With pieces such as “Tin Drum Stories; Parts 1 & 2, the guitarist slashes and burns atop Michael Griener’s swarming ...
read more- 'Andreas Willers is one the most imaginative electric guitarists on the planet.' Jazzthetik - ‚‘....alomst made me cry. Willers is an incredibly inventive guitarist.‘ Budd Kopman (AAJ.com)
- ‚Willers really is a stupor mundi guitarist‘ Bad Alchemy
- '....combines contrasting techniques, worlds of tones and traditions into a singular, easy-to-identify sound.' the RoRoRo Jazz Lexicon
- 'The German guitar player A.W. is certainly one of the most interesting voices in Europe.‘ AAJ.it
- 'Just when you think that everything has been said a new album by Andreas Willers comes along, a daring tour de force, where all the downsides of the avantgarde - boredom, disorder, redundance - are brilliantely avoided.' five stars ***** / JAZZTHETIK