Born into a musical family, Andy studied classical piano from the age of 7 to 18 years. He realized in his teens that his heart was in songwriting and improvised music. With a career spanning 50 years in multiple genres he has never stopped performing in Australia and overseas.
Andy’s style massages the soul, R & B and blues idioms in a steamy piano format. Blues has always been at the core of his work, but it is the emotional quality of his big swampy character filled voice, soulful piano-playing and the diversity he displays as a songwriter and interpreter that have helped make him one of the best live performers in Australia.
He was awarded Blues Album of the Year for his album “One of These Days”and was an ARIA nominee for his “10.30 Thursdays” CD. He represented the MBAS at the International Blues Convention in Memphis, Tennessee and has recorded 10 studio albums and a live DVD “A Tale Of Two Cities" recorded at The Basement in Sydney and The Corner Hotel in Melbourne.
Some of the artists he has played keyboards, toured, composed and done session work for are Ian Moss, Renee Geyer, Ayers Rock, Skyhooks, Kevin Borich, and Madder Lake….
Andy is currently living in the Noosa Hinterland and performing with Ric Halstead-tenor and soprano sax, Christian Dunham - electric and acoustic bass, and Duncan MacQueen - drums.
“Simply suberb” - Sunday Herald - Sun (Lee Howard)
“ ..nothing but pure class” - (Mark Doherty -Rhythms Magazine)
“…..Cowan shows himself to be a great songwriter and musician.” (EdNimmervoll - Music Australia Guide Magazine)
“..a terrific little prize, swampy vocals on a fountain of virtuosic piano playing” (Gary Tippet- The Age)