Andy Jaffe
Andy Jaffe is a distinguished jazz pianist, composer, and educator whose influence spans generations. During his tenure at Berklee College of Music, he mentored luminaries such as Branford Marsalis and Wang Leehom. After nearly four decades as a professor at Williams College, Jaffe has recently transitioned into a vibrant new chapter of his career. Now retired from academia, he remains a vital force in the jazz world, focusing on active performance and sophisticated composition.
Andy Jaffe is a distinguished jazz pianist, composer, author, and educator whose career spans several decades. Born during the Harry Truman presidency and raised in New York and Amherst, Massachusetts, Jaffe has established himself as a leading figure in jazz pedagogy and performance. From 1977 to 1981, he served on the faculty of the prestigious Berklee College of Music, where he mentored a generation of world-renowned musicians, including Branford Marsalis, Marvin “Smitty” Smith, Claire Daly, Scott Robinson, Frank Lacy, Steve Vai, and pop icon Wang Leehom. Jaffe spent 30 years at Williams College, where he founded and directed the jazz program, and served as the Artistic Director of the Williamstown Jazz Festival from 1999 to 2009. An active recording artist and bandleader, he recently retired from his nearly 40-year academic career to embark on a vibrant new chapter focused on international performance and composition. He has recently brought his expertise to the stage at venues such as J House and Sappho Live Jazz.