Over nineteen years of experience, Amanda has been playing the saxophone since she was ten years old.
Amanda started studying jazz when she first joined her junior high school's jazz ensemble.
Her early influances were a variety of big bands - Duke Ellington, Glen Miller, and the Count Basie Orchestra. Later, her jazz would be influanced by the sounds of legendary Tenor Saxophonist John Coltrane. She also listened methodically to Stan Getz, Charlie Parker and a variety of other jazz giants. Today she enjoys the sounds of Coltrane, Kenny Garrett, Cannonball Adderley, Jay Beckenstein (Spyro Gyra), Grover Washington Jr., Paul Desmond, Leroi Moore of the Dave Matthews Band and Dana Colley, formally of the band Morphine.
Most of all, live music was a great source of education. Listening to local artists Nelson Rangell, Dotsero, Mark Rose (a former junior high music teacher), Laura Newman and AOA, and the Air Force Falconaires.
She played locally with Colorado Springs band Redraw the Farm for two years. Adding jazz to the eclectic mix of rock and punk, Amanda composed a few songs and enjoyed the creative exploration of adding jazz improvisation to the band. Amanda stopped playing with Redraw the Farm in May of 2001 to continue with college in the study of music.
Now in her second year at Adams State College in Alamosa, she continues to play lead alto for the school's jazz ensemble. In addition, she leads the ASC Jazz combo with fellow musicians Westley Lawrence (guitar), Meagan Parry (Piano), Stephanie Milano (Drums) and Matt Capell (Bass). Also, she plays with Crestone based band, The Spirit of Swing.
Amanda playes Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Baritone saxophones.
Currently, Amanda is composing new material for her jazz combo - Firehouse Parade.
