Born and raised in Austin, Texas, Andrews began playing guitar at age 5, taught by his father, John Andrews of the 60s Roots Band Mother Earth. Since the age of 8 he has been trading licks with and opening for such masters as Albert King, B.B. King, Albert Collins, Buddy Guy, Otis Rush, and Jimmie Vaughan, starting at his hometown’s legendary club Antone’s. By his early teens he was wowing audiences and fellow musicians at such premier blues venues as B.B. King’s in Memphis and Los Angeles and Slim’s in San Francisco. He has performed at major festivals such as the San Francisco Blues Festival and Madison Blues Festival with Ray Charles. Andrews has been featured on CBS, Austin City Limits, Guitar Player, Texas Monthly and Vintage Guitar among numerous other publications.
By the age of 17, Andrews was signed with Jericho Records, a Warner Brothers/Sire subsidiary, and began working on his debut album in Los Angeles. In 1999, he released his debut album Time to Burn with producer John Porter (Los Lonely Boys, BB King).
Billboard Magazine stated, “Time to Burn’s mix of guitar pyrotechnics, fiery vocals and powerful new songs confirms that Jake Andrews is already blazing new paths with the torch he’s been passed.” The first title single scored a Top Ten Rock Radio hit. Andrews earned the award of “Breakout Rock Group” in 1999 by R&R (Radio and Records). The record was supported with a national tour with artists including the Allman Brothers, The Doobie Brothers, Susan Tedeschi, Boz Scaggs and George Thorogood.
A self-titled album Jake Andrews (2002) was released on the Texas Music Group label produced by Carla Olson (Phil Upchurch, Joe Louis Walker, Otis Rush,Barry Goldberg, Mick Taylor). In 2006, Andrews joined Guitar Shorty on his Alligator Release We the People accompanying the legendary bluesman, and former brother-in- law to Jimi Hendrix, on the album and subsequent US and international tour. The album won the Blues Music Award for Contemporary Blues Album in May 2007.
Feelin’ Good Again (2007), Andrew’s third solo release, was recorded at Congress House Studio. Livin’ in the Grave (2011), his fourth album, features two instrumental tracks that underscore his reputation as one of the finest guitar players today in blues and rock. One track featured Andrews and Grammy winning guitar great Eric Johnson in a dueling guitar epic piece entitled “Solid”. In 2017, Andrews released In the Shadows, his fifth solo album. The album delivered a 21st century wall of sound; heavy songs and intense vocals make for a powerful, tough, rockin’ guitar heaven. The album also veered into more rock territory.
Train Back Home, his sixth solo album was released July 2023 and debuted at #11 on the Billboard Blues Chart. The album is a live in the studio guitar instrumental affair featuring original songs and select covers. Some are hypotonic excursions. Jake is accompanied by Corey Britz on bass (Bush), Alvino Bennett on drums (Steve Wonder, Robin Trower), and Mike Thompson on keyboards (Rod Stewart, Eagles) The album is produced by Carla Olson.
In September 2023, Andrews performed at Eric Clapton’s prestigious Crossroads Guitar Festival in Los Angeles. Other artists on the festival included Eric Clapton, Joe Bonamassa, Kingfish, Santana, Gary Clark Jr., H.E.R., Sheryl Crow, John Mayer, Marcus King, Eric Gales and many more.
Lending his guitar chops to other records, Andrews is featured on guitar throughout the solo albums by Paul Jones Starting All Over Again (2009) and Suddenly I Like It (2015) which also featured guitar legends Eric Clapton and Joe Bonamassa. Reviews of the Jones album bring praise for Andrews commenting on his “killer riffs” and “classic electric blues riffs”. One reviewer says, “Andrews is going to awe guitar freaks….his mastery of tone is impressive and he easily slides between hard, roadhouse blues to classic funk…to soul”. An instrumental track from this album, co-written by Andrews, earned him a 2010 Grammy pre-nomination.
