Andy Panayi

Andy Panayi is an exceptionally gifted jazz musician, skilled in performance, composition and arranging. He plays all the flutes, all the saxophones & clarinet and currently leads his own groups, both jazz and classical.

Andy has performed and recorded with many singers such as Shirley Bassey, Jessye Norman, Paul McCartney, Salena Jones, Elvis Costello, Georgie Fame, Peter Skellen, Zoot Money, Irene Reed, Elaine Delmar, Helen Shapiro, Madeline Bell & Patty Austin to name a few.

He's also worked alongside or supported Abdulla Ibrahim (Dollar Brand), Freddie Hubbard, Louie Bellson Octet & Big Band, Ed Thigpen, Jiggs Whigham, Billy Cobham, Indo-Jazz Fusions run by Johnny Mayer, Vale of Glamorgan Contemporary Music Festival, LSSO, The Moscow City Ballet, Ronnie Scott & his Side-men, Scott Hamilton, Ken Peplowski, Pepper Adams, Kenny Baker, Ted Heath/Don Lusher Big Band, BBC Radio Big Band, Bert Kaemphert Orchestra, Stan Tracey Big Band - Septet - Octet, John Dankworth & Cleo Laine, The John & Alec Dankworth Generation Big Band, Humphrey Lyttelton and many more.

Andy has been teaching classical and jazz music since the 80’s in schools and colleges. He has also worked on the syllabuses for the ABRSM & Trinity Guildhall examination boards. Andy has been working in theatres mainly in the West End and The National Theatre in London since 1985 and continues to do so to this day.

Andy teaches Jazz Sax and Woodwinds at the Birmingham Conservatoire, as well as Classical & Jazz Flute, Sax and Clarinet at the Royal College and The Royal Academy of Music.