Andru Branch

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Andru Branch


Img_capt =
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Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Andrew Reginald Arnold Branch
Born = birth date|1968|6|27 Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada
Origin = Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Instrument = keyboard, percussion
Genre = reggae, world
Associated_acts = Andru Branch & Halfway Tree
Occupation = singer, songwriter, musician
Years_active = 1985–present
Label =
URL = [http://www.halfwaytree.ca/ www.halfwaytree.ca]

Andru Reginald Arnold Branch (born June 27, 1968, Sackville, New Brunswick) is a Canadian reggae musician, singer-songwriter and leader of the reggae band "Andru Branch & Halfway Tree".

Career

Andru Branch was nominated for a Canadian JUNO music award (Best Reggae Recording) in 2000 for his debut album titled "What If I Told You", recorded at Kingston Muzik Studio in Kingston, Jamaica. The album was distributed with modified artwork in Europe and the United States by Tabou 1 Records and features Earl “Chinna” Smith and members of Bob Marley’s backup band “The Wailers”; Aston “Family Man” Barrett, Tyrone Downie, and Alvin “Seeco” Patterson.

His second album "The Only Constant" was released in January 2008 and features Squidly Cole and Chris Meredith of Ziggy Marley's band along with Alvin “Seeco” Patterson from The Wailers. "The Only Constant" is straight-up roots-reggae, brimming with lush horns, placid backbeats and spiritual proclamations".Citation
last =Aikins
first =Matthieu
author-link =
publication-date =January 24, 2008
date =
year =2008
title =Andru Branch's New Album, The Only Constant
periodical =The Coast
publication-place =Halifax, NS
place =
publisher =
volume =
issue =
pages =
url =http://thecoast.ca/Articles-i-2008-01-24-151558.113118_Andru_Branchs_New_AlbumThe_Only_Constant.html
accessdate =August 23, 2008] Its title was taken from a popular saying ("the only constant in life is change") favoured by Andru's late mother.Citation
last =MacIntyre
first =Genevieve
author-link =
publication-date =January 24, 2008
date =
year =2008
title =Reggae Inventor Reclaims Music
periodical =The Daily News
publication-place =Halifax, NS
place =
publisher =
volume =
issue =
pages =
url =
accessdate =May 26, 2008] The album was recorded at Kingston Muzik Studio in Jamaica, Victory Drive Studio in Toronto, Ontario and was mixed and mastered at Common Ground Studio in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Andru’s traditional roots-reggae style is wide-ranging, varying from African high-life to suggestions of country influence and has been described by "Exclaim! Magazine" as “some of the rootsiest bottom-heavy music ever to come out of the Great White North”.Citation
last =Hagerman
first =Brent
author-link =
publication-date =May 2008
date =
year =2008
title =The Only Constant CD Review
periodical =Exclaim! Magazine
publication-place =Toronto, Ont
place =
publisher =
volume =
issue =
pages =38
url =http://www.exclaim.ca/musicreviews/generalreview.aspx?csid1=121&csid2=849&fid1=31040
accessdate =August 25, 2008] He performed at Jamaica’s 1998 Reggae Sunsplash Festival Citation
last =
first =
author-link =
publication-date =March 15, 1998
date =
year =1998
title =Andru Branch's Reggae Connections
periodical = [http://www.sunheraldja.com/frontpage The Sunday Herald]
publication-place =Kingston, Jamaica
place =
publisher =
volume =
issue =
pages =
url =
accessdate =] and as a percussionist, has backed musicians Brinsley Forde, Gregory Isaacs, Glen Washington, Vybz Kartel and Sean Paul.

Studio One’s original Soul Vendors bassist Brian “Bassie” Atkinson joined Andru Branch & Halfway Tree in 2002 and the band is currently making new reggae music.Citation
last =Robinson
first =Andrew
author-link =
publication-date =February 8, 2008
date =
year =2008
title =Reggae Musician Strums World Rhythm
periodical =The Halifax Commoner
publication-place =
place =
publisher =
volume =10
issue =9
pages =1
url =http://journalism.ukings.ca/files/issue97.pdf
accessdate =August 25, 2008]

Andru developed a profound love for reggae music while growing up in multicultural Toronto, Ontario where he was mentored by Tony "Raffa" White and Bernie Pitters before moving to Halifax, Nova Scotia in 2000. Andru Branch graduated from Lawrence Park Collegiate and received a "Sound & Music Recording Diploma" from Recording Arts Canada.

Discography

Albums:

* Andru Branch; "What If I Told You" (1998)
* Andru Branch; "The Only Constant" (2008)

Appears On:

* Confrontation; [http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/1128473/a/It's+A+New+Day.htm|"It's A New Day"] (1999)
* Various; [http://music.barnesandnoble.com/Roots-with-Quality-Best-of-Tabou1-Vol-1/e/661847111726|"Roots with Quality: Best of Tabou 1, Vol 1"] (1999)
* Chris Bottomley; [http://cdbaby.com/cd/bottomleyc2|"Knotty Bits"] (2003)
* Various; [http://cdbaby.com/cd/realrootsreggae|"Real Roots Reggae - A Canadian Story"] (2007)

Video:

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyqB0IFWsPk&feature=related/|"Holy Jihad"] (2008)

References

External Links

Official Website: [http://www.halfwaytree.ca/ www.halfwaytree.ca]