About Andy Coolman
Andy 'Coolman' Eickhoff is a Montreal-based guitar virtuoso. He was rigorously trained in classical guitar at the Quebec Conservatory of Music, where he studied with Paul André Gagnon for seven years. During this time, he started the 'Fresh Air Blues Band,' playing live for about ten years around the province of Quebec. He began a life long love affair with jazz guitar when he took a few master classes with the great Joe Pass.
When he moved to Montreal, Andy met up with other great blues musicians at Doudou Boicel's famous Rising Sun Celebrity Jazz Club. He started the Andy Eickhoff Blues Machine and went on to play with Hubert Sumlin and the legendary Chicago pianist Big Moose Walker. Andy always kept up his jazz and classical studies, attending L'Academie de Guitar under the tutelage of Denis Poliquin.
Andy's influences include:
- Rock: Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple), Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath), Eddie van Halen, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Yngwie Malmstein, Dave Mustaine (Megadeth), Kirk Hammett (Metallica) and Uli Jon Roth. Most recently he's discovered Herman Li (Dragon Force).
- Blues: The 3 Kings: B.B., Albert and Freddie, Eric Clapton, Roy Buchanan, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Johnny Winter, Freddie Robinson, Buddy Guy and recently, Joe Bonamassa.
- Jazz: Joe Pass, Pat Metheny, Django Reinhardt, Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin, Alan Holdsworth, John Coltraine and Miles Davis.
- Classical: John Williams, Julian Bream, Liona Boyd, Alexandre LaGoya and Andrés Segovia.
In the near future future Andy hopes to record with bassists Calvin the Great and Eric the Magnificent of Montreal, along with the indomitable Al 'Killer' Patterson on drums. Andy would love to do a tribute to Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne. What ever the future holds in store for Andy Coolman, the classical guitar will always be important, or else he'll get in trouble with his little sister. Andy aspires to be the best in the world in rock, blues, jazz and classical guitar, but he remains humble. You'll be able to see it all unfold on YouTube. Stay tuned!