​ANDY ALGIRE

Andy Algire is a percussionist, composer and educator specializing in African and jazz music. His musical training began as a Percussion Performance Major at the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire. As a member of the University’s jazz ensemble he toured Mainland China and Hong Kong in 1993. In the mid-1990s he continued touring in the U.S. with Minneapolis guitarist Billy McLaughlin and Scott Hanna’s Rhythm Exchange. 

In 2000 Andy moved to New York City and began formal study with Guinean master balafonist Abou Sylla. Currently, he is the musical director of Feraba - African Rhythm Tap, an award-winning company based in Brooklyn and Sound Bridges, a multi-cultural performance group featuring original music and dance choreography. Andy has been actively performing with West African based music groups for over two decades and is a member of several bands including the Mandingo Ambassadors and Famoro Dioubate’s Kakande. He performs nationally and internationally with Michael Veal’s Aqua Ife, Making Music Dance, Tommy Bentz Band, Azouhouni Adou and Drum Cafe. He has accompanied numerous acclaimed recording artists from Africa, including Sekouba Bambino, Hassan Hakmoun, and Oumou Dioubate. 

Andy is active as a composer and has received composition grants from various New York arts foundations, including a recent grant from the New Music USA Development Fund for a recording project with the group Sound Bridges, and a 2022 ArtsWestchester Arts Alive grant.

Andy has been a music instructor at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY since 2007, where he leads two African music ensembles. He is a dedicated music educator and teaching artist, leading classes, workshops and residencies in the New York City public school system and the surrounding area. For the last 22 years Andy has worked with Heather Cornell of Manhattan Tap as an accompanist and guest teacher at her annual intensive tap dance workshops.