Andy Kotz profile picture

Andy Kotz

www.andykotz.com

About Me

View my page on THE JAZZ NETWORK
Be sure to visit me at www.andykotz.com and akmusicproductions
Born in Detroit and raised in Michigan, Argentina, Arizona, Oregon and California...It all started with a summer job as a lighting and sound apprentice at The Golden Bear Nightclub in Huntington Beach, CA in 1977. I saw Lee Ritenour, Larry Carlton and The Robben Ford Band and was immediately in love with the guitar. My grandfather Agustin Cornejo was a reknowned Argentine folk guitarist so the instrument was in my blood. Two years at Golden West College, a year of study at G.I.T. (March/1983-84) and my love for jazz and r&b led to cover bands in southern California to learn the skill of musicianship. I then worked for 14 years out of the Los Angeles area (Burbank, CA), playing, writing, producing and/or recording with the likes of The Worthy Davis Project , Louie Louie, Gerardo, Freejack, Hayden (Motown still owes me for that session!), a very brief stint with Otis Day and the Knights, Michael Schlessinger, Danielle LoPresti , (sampling/sequencing for M.D.) Chuckie Booker's TLC Tour, Michelle Shocked, Chante Moore, After 7 and El DeBarge before relocating to Minneapolis, MN in 1997, playing with the Ronny Loew Band and composing for my sister and film producer Cristina Kotz Cornejo (cKc) . I have toured around the world with various recording artists as well as leading several bands in southern California. Currently compose, arrange and produce tracks for hire with among others, George H. Johnson . (vocalist/lyricist).
Professional Experience:
* Composed and scored tracks for the films "ERNESTO", "OFF TO COLLEGE" and "THE APPOINTMENT". Received "Best Original Score", soundtrack for film "THE APPOINTMENT" in NYU Film Festival. (wildwimminfilms) Most recently completed tracks for Cristina's film "3 Américas" , now showing at film festivals. (Click link for more info)...or go to akmusic productions for a sample of some of my scores and source music.
* RONNY LOEW BAND (Hot Springs Records)
Play guitar for Minneapolis saxman Ronny Loew . Band features former PRINCE keyboardist - Tommy Barbarella , ALEXANDER O'NEAL drummer - Ron Heyne , bassist/vocalist extraordinaire Tony Axtell and PRINCE percussionist Ester Godinez.
* AFTER 7 (LaFace Records)
Lead & Rhythm Guitars. Toured in support of album "REFLECTIONS". Alex Alessandroni, Musical Director.
* CHANTE MOORE (Silas Records)
Lead, Rhythm Guitars and Sequence Programming for tour. Toured in support of album "LOVE SUPREME". Cornelius Mims , Musical Director.
* EL DeBARGE (LaFace Records)
Lead & Rhythm Guitars. Toured in support of album "HEART, MIND & SOUL".
* GERARDO (Interscope and EMI Latin Records)
Producer/Songwriter/ Lead & Rhythm Guitars/Keyboards & Drum Programming. Composed, recorded & toured in support of 2 albums, "ASI ES" & "DERRUMBE".
* MICHELLE SHOCKED (Mighty Sound)
Lead & Rhythm Guitars. Toured in support of album "ARKANSAS TRAVELLER".
* LOUIE LOUIE (Sire/Warner Bros. Records)
Lead & Rhythm Guitars. Performed in support of album "LET'S GET STARTED" featuring 3 Prince produced tracks.
* DOMINOES and MATINEE IDOL
Lead, Rhythm Guitars & vocals for these legendary Los Angeles area- based bands featuring Darrell Nelson and Worthy Davis as vocalists, Frank Reina on drums and Henry Soliz on bass, Mark Lundquist and Rob Rinderer ..boards and ("the one and only!") Gino Garcia on percussion. These bands were reknowned for their deeply rooted funk, R&B and club dance influences and featured tunes by artists like: Earth, Wind & Fire; Ohio Players, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Parliament, etc...
View my page on THE JAZZ NETWORK
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My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 1/28/2007
Band Website: myspace.com/akmusicproductions
Band Members:
Andy Kotz: Guitar, Keyboard and Drum programming, Production...

When I'm lucky enough, I get to play with the likes of:
Ronny Loew (saxes), Darrell Nelson and George Johnson (Vocals), Tony Axtell (basses/vocals), Donnie La Marca (kbds), Tommy Barbarella (kbds), Frank Reina (drums), Henry Soliz (bass), Mark Lundquist (kbds), Ron "RonnaJay" Heyne (drums), Gino Garcia (percussion), Thad Corea (drums/producer), Dain Noel (kbds) and I'm sure many others who would be so musically gracious..."many thanks for your friendship..."

Influences: R&B, Funk, Jazz, Smooth Jazz, Nu-Jazz, Jazz-Rock, Fusion, Salsa and Brazilian...my mother Sara Cornejo Kotz and my grandfather Augustin Cornejo.

Musical Inspiration drawn from (NOT in chronological order!):
Lee Ritenour, Jeff Beck, Larry Carlton, Robben Ford, Billy Cobham & Tommy Bolin, Alex Acuna, Seawind, Eric Gale, Steve Khan, David T. Walker, Steve Gadd, Miles Davis, George Duke, Wayne Shorter, Joe Zawinul/Weather Report/Weather Update/Zawinul Syndicate, Michael Brecker/Brecker Bros., Antonio Carlos Jobim, Oscar Castro-Neves, Gilberto Gil, Don Grolnick, The Yellowjackets (Russell and Jimmy!), Marcus Miller, Michael Landau, John Scofield, Mike Stern, Scott Henderson, Dean Brown, Eddie Van Halen (THE Rock God), Eddie Hazel, David T. Walker, Jimmy Nolen, Hiram Bullock (RIP), Phelps Collins, Herbie Hancock & Headhunters, Abe Laboriel, Tito Puente, Steps Ahead, Perez Prado, Carlos Santana, Eddie Palmieri, Jimi Hendrix, David Sanborn, Ruben Blades, Bob James/Fourplay, Vinnie Coliauta, Harvey Mason, etc...and most recently: Allen Hinds, Wayne Krantz, and Chuck Loeb.

Other Influences:
Sly & The Family Stone; James Brown, The Meters, Bootsy Collins Rubber Band; Earth, Wind & Fire; The Ohio Players; War; (early) Kool & The Gang; Parliament/Funkadelic; The Commodores; The Isley Bros., Steely Dan; Blood, Sweat & Tears; The Doobie Brothers; Stevie Wonder; Marvin Gaye; The Ojays; Tower of Power; Prince; The Police/Sting...etc.

Now this is COOL!!! Check out some of my favorite players (listed above as influences) groovin' to "IT'S ON" and it's REALLY FUNKY!! Marcus Miller, George Duke and Lee Ritenour!

Below: Robben Ford and Larry Carlton...two of my biggest influences!

This is Hiram Bullock at his finest! May he rest in peace...

Sounds Like: ...a blend of all my influences!
Record Label: www.songvault.fm/artists/andy_kotz.htm
Type of Label: None

My Blog

Recording with Bill Anschell...

...on the internet!! We met at the Jazz Network website. He was gracious enough to play keyboards and send me the files over the internet for my song "Hide 'N Go Seek", and did a fantastic job. It rea...
Posted by Andy Kotz on Sun, 10 Aug 2008 05:54:00 PST

Ive resumed writing and recording...

...again. I've dealt with the grief brought by my mother's passing. I'm sure I'll continue to grieve as it's a long process. However, at this point I'm able to move forward. I feel better now. Enough ...
Posted by Andy Kotz on Tue, 27 May 2008 09:10:00 PST

My mom...

My mom Sara, passed away Saturday April 12th. Boy...I was not ready for that one. Of course, my 4 year old boy and I  found her deceased in her apartment. That was the worst day our lives. The fact th...
Posted by Andy Kotz on Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:07:00 PST

I've had it with truck driving!!

Well...I've just about had enough of truck driving, especially for Con-Way Freight. I get about 9 hours off to myself (10 by law but 1 hour spent driving to/from home), daily Monday night through Frid...
Posted by Andy Kotz on Tue, 08 Apr 2008 07:46:00 PST

Playing the hand dealt...

Well...I'm slowly re-writing/re-recording old tracks. Ones that were only shitty 4-track ideas at best. Now they're fully digital and virtual ideas that are only slightly better than crap!! But I'm ma...
Posted by Andy Kotz on Mon, 18 Feb 2008 06:33:00 PST

"Hey! Give me a break! I'm getting to know MySpace..."

...and getting used to bumpin' into things as I work my way around here...I'm totally in the dark!!  
Posted by Andy Kotz on Mon, 29 Jan 2007 06:18:00 PST