Percussionist, composer, and collaborator Curtis Andrews, is a Canadian musician with global persuasions. A percussionist/composer/teacher who creates music that is informed by his many years of experience with West African, South Indian and jazz traditions yet manages to transcend easy categorization.
His personal musical journeys over the years have extended to villages and metropolises of Ghana, India, South Africa and Zimbabwe, and he has developed a deep knowledge of the history and performance of music from these areas. His personal mentors have included (the late) Don Wherry, Trichy Sankaran and Humegbeda Kwasi Dunyo. He continues to study and perform with these masters whenever possible.
He has released two albums of original award-winning music with his own ensemble The Offering of Curtis Andrews, plays mbira, drums and marimba with Zimbabwean groups Zhambai Trio and Zimbamoto, explores South Indian classical Carnatic music with vocalist Vidyasagar Vankayala, regularly collaborates with local Bharatanatyam performers, and is a regular collaborator with various world music and jazz musicians in and around Vancouver, BC. Besides being an eclectic performer, he also holds a PhD in Ethnomusicology. “A profound talent in the area of drumming and percussion.” Tom Haugen – Take Effect