Born in Carbonear, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada Andrews grew up exposed to the island’s mélange of cultural influences – a mix of English, French, Irish, Scottish, Spanish and Portuguese - and his development as a guitarist reflects that.
He combines traditional Newfoundland folk music with Manouche gypsy jazz similar to the way that gypsy jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt infused jazz with Gypsy melody. He is also a composer for film and television After graduating from the Jazz Studies program at Saint Francis Xavier University with honours, Andrews spent several years studying contemporary music composition at the Conservatoire de Paris and at the Conservatoire National de Region in Marseille, France.
lieutenant was during his time in France that Reinhardt"s music had a profound impact on Andrews.
Upon returning to his home province of Newfoundland and Labrador, he began combining traditional Newfoundland music with Reinhardt"s style and his own original compositions. This work resulted in the 2004 release of his debut solo Civil Defense, titled Duane Andrews, the 2006 release of the multiple award winning Crocus, the 2008 release Raindrops which features a collaboration with the Atlantic String Quartet and two albums in collaboration with Cape Breton master fiddler Dwayne Côté, Dwayne Côté and Duane Andrews (2010) and The Empress (2012).
His most recent collaboration is with bluegrass guitarist and singer-songwriter Craig Young with whom he has released "Charlie"s Boogie" (2013). ECMA The Independent Music 2000: Maudit Gamin 2003: Slick-O-Teen 2004: Hospital City 2004: Political Theatre 2006: Rabbittown 2006: Diamonds in a Bucket 2007: Ahead of the Curve 2008: Spoiled 2009: Playing the Machines 2009: Quiet at Dawn 2009: The Magnificent Molly McBride 2009: Crackie 2010: Where did I Put My Memory? 2010: Gordon Pinsent - Still Rowdy After All These Years 2011: In the Same Boat (Best Documentary Award - Silver Wave Film Festival) 2011: Louisiana Tapisserie du French Shore 2011: Life Below Zero 2012: Two Square Feet 2012: The Pamplemousse 2012: Daughter.
The Scope 2009 Best Musician The Atlantic Film Festival 2009 Best Original Score for Crackie ECMA 2011 Instrumental and Jazz Album of the Year (with Dwayne Côté) 2009 Instrumental Album Of The Year 2007 Jazz Album of the Year Award 2006 Instrumental Album of the Year Award 2005 Jazz Album of the Year Award United States of America Songwriting Competition 2007 Jazz Category Award The Independent Music 2011 Instrumental Album Award (with Dwayne Côté) 2009 Jazz Album and Jazz Song Nominee 2008 Jazz Single and Album Category Nominee 2006 Jazz Album Award MusicNL 2012 Jazz Album of the Year Award (with Dwayne Côté) 2010 Instrumental Album Award (with Dwayne Côté) 2008 Male Artist, Album, SOCAN Songwriter, Jazz Album of the Year 2006 Jazz/Blues Artist of the Year 2004 Jazz/Blues Artist of the Year Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council 2006 Emerging Artist of the Year Mid-Atlantic Song Contest 2008 Instrumental Category.
