Andy Findon

Multi woodwind instrumentalist

Reviews of “Tracked”

The GAZETTE of the Greater Boston Flute Association

 

Review by Elizabeth Watson

 

The Quartz website describes Andy Findon’s new recording, Tracked (2005), as “a dazzling collection of arrangements and original compositions showcasing the kaleidoscopic talent of Andy Findon”.

 

After listening to this CD, I have to agree. You think you have some chops on the flute? English woodwind virtuoso Andy Findon plays the entire flute family from a Rudall Carte piccolo through Kotato and Fukishima contrabass flutes, saxes, clarinets, recorders, chinese flutes, irish whistles, pan pipes, bamboo/indian flutes and ocarinas.

 

All right, it is one thing to be a fluent multi-instrumentalist, but in addition to that, he has written some beautiful arrangements, spanning many eras and styles of music. When you visit his website, and I recommend that you do, you will see that he has played for dozens of shows and studio recordings, as well as probably more than a hundred film scores (I did not count them), including Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and Lord of the Rings, Return of the King.

 

I particularly liked the Vivaldi Bassoon Concerto in G minor, arranged for solo baritone sax. The string parts are covered by Andy on 2 flutes, alto, bass and contrabass flutes (multi-tracking, remember), with Marcus Tilt on harpsichord. A little jarring at first, then fun, than addictive! The Adagio for Strings by Samuel Barber and the Rachmaninoff Vocalise, arranged for flute choir are gorgeous.

 

He presents music by Mozart, Gabrielli and Malcolm Arnold, traditional Irish tunes, Creole jazz, pop, film music and more. Taken as a whole, the CD can overwhelm but there is something here for everyone. Here is wit and humor in abundance, but always with love and respect for the music. Mr Findon’s tone on many of these instruments, piccolo and saxes particularly, is quite different from what American listeners may be accustomed to.

 

This is an ambitious recording, clearly a labor for the love of music, the flute and all its cousins, big and little. I liked this CD very much, and as I listen, I keep finding new things to like about it.

 

Elizabeth Watson is the current President of the Greater Boston Flute Society.

 

[Editor’s note : when we play this CD, all of our cats run in and do the Hully-Gully, then roll around on the floor laughing, their ears rotating 360degrees, then they hop up, form “teams” and break into a Baroque sort of a “trot”, round and round, then it’s back to the Hully-Gully…..then they all run into the basement…..if someone knows what this means please email copywriter@rcn.com right away!]

FLUIT Magazine of the Netherlands Flute Association

 

Review by Wieke Karsten

 

At conservatoires an intensive debate has been going on for a while about the “perspective for the future” of students. A flautist being educated now can not realistically expect to get an orchestral job: how – apart from teaching – will he be able to build  a performing career? Students must be prepared for a “broad professional practise”. One possibility is to be a studio musician. Andy Findon is one such musician. Not only is it one of his main
activities (look at his website under filmscores...), he also plays about 30 (!) different instruments with matching musical styles on this CD.
It is easy to guess that these are not only flutes.
The computer nowadays provides endless possibilities for multi-track
recordings. Findon delights in this and plays whole orchestras on his
own. Only bass guitar, piano, harpsichord, tabla, solo-clarinet and
trumpet/fluegelhorn are played by others, often family members. Findon
plays all kind of arrangements - ranging from Vivaldi’s bassoon concerto
(on baritone sax with flute choir), Barbers Adagio, a quartet by
Gabrielli (on recorder and panpipes), dixieland (with clarinets and
saxes) to Indian flute music. Seldom did I hear such a varied CD ! 
This CD radiates that it is a "dream project" come true. The choice of
instruments, the arrangements, the variety in repertoire, it makes a
personal portrait of Andy Findon and listening to the CD is to experience a pleasant introduction to a humorous and inspired musician.

CLARINET & SAXOPHONE Magazine of the Clarinet And Saxophone Society

 

Review by Frank Griffith

 

Multi-reedist, flautist Andy Findon has cleverly concocted a veritable menu of different woodwind combinations disseminated over a wide array of material. Tracked gets its title from the multi-tracking of Andy’s various instruments on all cuts. Fortunately though, he invites others to join in the fun, including his two sons, wife and father. A “Findon fiefdom”, if you like.

A quick glance at Andy’s website will reveal his breadth of success and experience in orchestral and theatre work as well as film soundtracks. The credits are so extensive that this reader needed to take a break from reading midway for a brief lie-down. The repertoire for this CD reflects this experience with arrangements (many by the artist) of classical excerpts from the likes of Gabrieli, Vivaldi, Rachmaninov and Barber as well as film composers John Williams and Bernard Hermann. Particular highlights include a romantic flute and piano duet of Angela Morley’s Valse Bleue featuring the talents of keyboardist Andy Vinter. The lyrical flugelhorn of Julia Findon lends a welcome tonal variance to Andy’s gaggle of six flutes in an inventive arrangement of Gershwin’s Prelude No.2. Saxophonist Colin Skinner’s nifty clarinet arrangement of Luter’s Creole Jazz is a piece that Andy learned and played with his father, Ron, as a teenager over 30 years ago. Ron’s fine clarinet solo adds a welcome dose of improvisation, in this case, to the CD.

While the skill and versatility of Mr Findon is without doubt remarkable here, there are a few inclusions that are likely to raise the odd eyebrow. Debussy’s old chestnut Clair de Lune is given a five baritone sax setting, which, while a novel idea, sounds more like a send up than an apt tribute to the great composer’s piece. There are 19 cuts on Tracked, all of which clock in at around three minutes. Perhaps Mr Findon’s next effort for the fine Quartz label will feature less material, allowing him to consolidate his many strengths into a more focused effort.

MUSICIAN The Journal of the Musician’s Union

 

Review by Keith Ames

 

Since turning professional in the mid-1970’s Andy has been involved in almost all areas of recording and performing. His versatility on an impressive number of instruments, including flute, piccolo, clarinet and saxophone, has resulted in his being one of London’s most in-demand session players. His new album on the Quartz label demonstrates his unique talents in a masterclass of multi-tracked wizardry.

With material by Michael Nyman, Rachmaninoff, Malcolm Arnold and Debussy, co-producer Simon Haram has captured the essence of a true virtuoso, while highlighting Andy’s sheer breadth and range. Of particular note is the emotional sweep and beautiful arrangement of John Williams’ Schindler’s List, with its mix of flutes, bass clarinet and soprano sax.