Andrew York (guitarist)

Andrew York (born 1958) is an American classical guitarist, lutenist and composer.

York was born in 1958 in Atlanta, Georgia and grew up in Virginia. He received degrees from James Madison University in Virginia and the University of Southern California. He studied in Spain, where he met classical guitarist John Williams. Williams has performed and recorded compositions by York. In 1989, York released his debut solo album, Perfect Sky (Timeless, 1989). He was a member of the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet until 2006.

York is the only alumnus in USC's history to have received their Distinguished Alumni Award twice, in 1997 as a member of the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet and again in 2003 for his solo music career.

He played lute with the USC Early Music Ensemble. In addition to his solo career, recording and performing his own compositions, York's recent collaborations include projects with Andy Summers, W. A. Mathieu, Dai Kimura, and Mitsuko Kado. York's tour schedule has included concerts in thirty countries. York's compositions and arrangements for guitar have been performed and recorded by guitarists John Williams, Christopher Parkening, and Sharon Isbin.

York has over 50 works published for guitar: solo, duo, trio, quartet, and ensemble. He has appeared in three DVDS, has recorded or appeared as soloist on more than ten albums, and has published a three-volume work on jazz for classical guitarists. York plays on ten recordings with the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, including the Grammy Award-winning Guitar Heroes (2005). His solo albums include: Perfect Sky (1986), Dénouement (1994), Into Dark (1997), California Breeze (2006), Hauser Sessions (2007), and Yamour (2012).

Regarding Dénouement, Jim Ferguson stated that the five original suites that make up the recording "demonstrate [York's] exceptional compositional breadth, commanding instrumental abilities, and rich tone. Rife with folk, jazz, and ancient influences, the material ranges from challenging to simple yet highly musical."

Solo

• Perfect Sky (1986)
• Dénouement (1994)
• Into Dark (1997)
• Hauser Sessions (2007)
• Centerpeace (2010)
• Yamour (2012)

With LAGQ

• Guitar Recital
• Dances from Renaissance to Nutcracker
• Evening in Granada
• Labyrinth (LAGQ album)
• For Thy Pleasure
• The Best of LAGQ
• L.A.G.Q.
• Air and Ground
• LAGQ: Latin
• Guitar Heroes
• Spin (LAGQ album)

Collaborations, Compilations

• Windham Hill Records: Guitar Sampler (1988)
• Legends of Guitar (Rhino, 1991)
• An Evening with International Guitar Night with Guinga, Brian Gore, and Pierre Bensusan (Favored Nations, 2004)

• Complete Discography

• Contemporary Classic Guitar
• LAGQ Live!
• Primal Twang

• Jazz for Classical Cats I: Harmony (method book w/CD)
• Jazz for Classical Cats II: Chord/Melody (method book w/CD)
• Jazz for Classical Cats III: Improvisation (method book w/CD)