Andrew Westphal Music

Andrew was absolutely terrific! I had so many people at the wedding tell me how wonderful the music was. Everyone, young and old was up dancing the entire reception. He seamlessly mixed all the songs I had requested with requests from guests and made it such an amazing day. He even handled a power outage caused by the caterer with ease. Read the rest of this entry »

Here’s a recording that I arranged and produced with an incredible vocalist from the Hudson Valley named Diva Haase. She has so much soul! Listen to her rendition of the classic tune Sweet Lorraine and I’m sure you’ll want to hear more from this amazingly talented artist.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

When I was about 11 years old I listened to a tape of George Gershwin on a bike trip around Europe. Thus began my life-long infatuation with one of my favorite composers. When I play solo piano, I always try to incorporate as much Gershwin as possible! Of course, I love all the great American songbook writers–from Irving Berlin to Cole Porter and yes, even some of the modern greats. But there is something about Gershwin…

And so, here is my solo piano recording of some of Gershwin classics, arranged into a medley. My interpretations of these songs tend to vary each time I play them… I hope you enjoy these renditions!

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Songs: Summertime, Lady Be Good, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Someone to Watch Over Me, Rhapsody in Blue (excerpt)

On my DJ sub-menu (to the right) there is a link to the most requested DJ songs from around the country. The list is dynamically updated and is a great way to get ideas for some of your most special requests on that most special day! In addition to the overall top 200, there are most requested lists by decade so you can quickly find that 80′s hit for your next retro party.

Also, there are some helpful lists of top music requests for wedding reception events. Here are the current top 50 Bride and Groom dances. Read the rest of this entry »

Here’s a great way to discover new music or revisit classics that you may have forgotten: go to the iTunes Essentials section on the iTunes store. There you will find an endless array of lists which are thoughtfully researched and organized. I’ve enjoyed browsing through the Genres and History sections for learning about different styles of music and finding cool tunes for my DJ sets. If you are looking for the perfect songs for specific occasions, check out The Sound Of series where they offer suggestions for Weddings, Holidays and other memorable events.

I must admit, I have a soft spot for 80′s music. Some of my favorite dance songs of all time are from the 80′s with legends such as Michael Jackson, Prince and Madonna all producing amazing hits and plenty of lesser known artists that created awesome pop tunes. Not to mention, we also witnessed the birth of Hip-Hop and Techno music.

And so, I suggest taking a look at this excellent list of the top dance songs from the 1980′s and add some neon to your party!

One of my clients recently asked if I could play Bittersweet Symphony by The Verve for their wedding reception entrance but they wanted to loop the instrumental part and leave out the vocals. This is easily accomplished with my DJ software, which is Serato, one of the industry standards. Loops and cues can be setup in advance which opens up a lot of possibilities for using your favorite parts of songs and even combining them with other songs. Uptempo songs can also be slowed down and vice versa. Pretty much whatever you can imagine! Read the rest of this entry »

The 90′s were a great time for dance music as this was when Electronic Dance Music really took off. DJs became rockstars and artists such as Moby, Daft Punk and Fatboy Slim became household names. For a trip down memory lane, check out the list of 100 Greatest Dance Songs of the 90s at DigitalDreamDoor.com. What’s really cool is that many of the songs have YouTube links to the music video. Hours can go by here!