Today we’d like to introduce you to Andy Statler.
Hi Andy, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Me and my bandmates met back in 2017 on the DC jazz scene going to jam sessions. Back then the sessions were being hosted at the Brixton and at Mr. Henry’s. There were certain players I gravitated towards and I would ask them to join me at my regular gig in the Mosaic District in Virginia.
We started getting some jazz brunch gigs and that morphed into other opportunities. Pretty soon our schedule was filling up with all kinds of performance opportunities – restaurants, clubs, bars, weddings, corporate events, memorial services, neighborhood parties/celebrations, among others.
Today we are playing 4 times a week at our residency in Georgetown. The venue is called the Alex Speakeasy and it is located in the Graham Georgetown. Our repertoire includes jazz standards as well as bossa nova, funk, soul, R&B, blues, samba, and pop. We often are chosen to accompany some of DC’s best vocalists because of our tight sound and our versatility.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There are many periods of doubt where we weren’t getting as many gigs as we wanted. As pianist and band leader, there were a few years early on in the band’s development where my own abilities and repertoire were not at the level I wanted them to be to get the kind of gigs that I wanted or to work with the caliber of vocalists that I was aiming for. I had to go step-by-step in improving my own ability in the practice room and also seek out opportunities to work with musicians that were better than myself.
Eventually the hard work paid off and the band was able to break through some of these obstacles.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
The band, the Blue Dot Jazz Troupe, specializes in keeping the rich history of jazz alive in the Washington DC area. We are known to play in smaller ensembles and yet to create a robust sound that often serves to showcase some of the areas best vocalists and horn players.
Our performances balance sophistication with warmth, making the music accessible to any audience—from intimate speakeasy jazz to lively wedding dance parties. What sets us apart is our ability to adapt our sound to the energy of the room while maintaining the authenticity and spontaneity that define great jazz.
How do you think about luck?
Luck has definitely played a role, but it’s usually shown up as being prepared when opportunity arrived. There were a few moments where a last-minute call to fill in for another band or a chance encounter at a jam session led to long-term collaborations and steady work. Our residency at the Alex Speakeasy, for instance, came about partly through being in the right place at the right time—but it stuck because we were ready musically and professionally to deliver. I think of luck as the spark that opens the door, but consistency and craft are what keep it open.
Pricing:
- Pricing available upon request via our website
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.bluedotjazztroupe.com
- Instagram: @BlueDotJazz
