Album Description:
"A groovin' collection and a funky fusion of jazz, funk, r&b, latin and world styles." (2008)
Album Notes:
“It’s About Time” is a good cross-section of my musical influences. I grew up loving the music of Earth, Wind and Fire, The Ohio Players, The Isley Bros., and then one day I heard Lee Ritenour’s 1978 release entitled “The Captain’s Journey”. Just graduated from high school and looking for direction Andy found it in the guitar. Ritenour's music led Andy to discover jazz in the form of Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Weather Report, etc. "I really liked the electric (fusion) jazz that had funk undertones and always had a place in my heart for latin sounds as well." His mother Sara and her sister Aurora (a recorded singing duo) were known in Argentina as “Las Hermanas Cornejo” and Andy's grandfather Agustin Cornejo was a re-knowned and enshrined Argentine folk guitarist...so music was in the blood. A near fatal auto accident in 1981 led to two years at Golden West College and one year at G.I.T. (at the Musicians Institute) and by March of 1984 his love for jazz and r&b led to work with cover bands throughout southern and northern California. Andy then worked for 14 years out of the Los Angeles area (Sherman Oaks and Burbank), playing, writing, producing and recording with the likes of The Worthy Davis Project, Louie Louie, latin rapper Gerardo, Freejak, Hayden ("Motown still owes me for that session!"), a brief stint with Otis Day and Knights, Michael Schlessinger, Danielle LoPresti, sampling and sequencing for Chuckie Booker’s TLC Tour, and as touring guitarist for Michelle Shocked, Chante Moore, After 7 and El DeBarge before re-locating to Minneapolis, MN in 1997 and hooking up with The Ronny Loew Band. Andy also manages to compose for sister and film maker Cristina Kotz Cornejo (check her out at: www.wildwimminfilms.com).
The songs for “It’s About Time” were all composed and recorded at home with some help from good friend George Johnson who wrote the lyrics to the song “It’s About Time” (and also sang on the track) and Dain Noel who solos on electric piano. Also helping out was Seattle area’s Bill Anschell (on electric piano) on the the track “Hide N’ Go Seek”. That was an internet session, hooked up through their online friendship at The Jazz Network! "I hope you enjoy my music and keep checking in as I’m in the process of making more music now! Thank you for your support. -- Andy Kotz
