The six favourite albums of The Police guitarist Andy Summers
It’s hard not to be drawn into the spellbinding narrative of Andy Summers, the quiet maestro whose fingers dance across the frets, creating a tapestry of sound that defies categorisation. While Sting and Stewart Copeland usually take the plaudits and the spotlight afforded The Police, it was his intricate, melodic riffs that went beyond technical proficiency and wove a narrative through notes that speak to the very soul of the listener.
Summers’ contribution to The Police, a band that rose to prominence in the late 1970s and early 1980s, extends far beyond the chart-topping hits that echo in the collective memory. His ability to blend elements of reggae, punk, and rock into a harmonious concoction showcases a musical alchemist at work. Though he may be an accomplished photographer and author, Summers’ first love will always be music.
While speaking with SPIN, the guitarist picked the five albums he couldn’t live without and it showcases a musician in love with his craft. The records he chooses offer up a sincere picture of the maestro behind the music as he selects LPs from all corners of the musical spectrum, starting with Theolinous Monk’s Brilliant Corners, about which he said: “I love all Monk. Brilliant Corners woke me up and prodded me as a teenager to think outside of the music box.”
While Sumner’s list touches on both traditional, jazz and Brazilian guitar, the instrument remains a key facet of every entry. He labels Julian Bream’s 20th Century Guitar: “an inspiring and timeless performance by JB,” noting that “that opened up — for me — what could be played on the guitar.”
Summers continued and selected two more guitar-centric pieces, from Luiz Bonfá (Le Roi de la Bossa Nova) and jazz icon, Wes Montgomery’s LP The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery, about which Sumner said: “Fantastic guitar playing and the waking-up to a new world on guitar – I was 15 years old when I discovered Wes Montgomery!”
Summers also paid tribute to Sebastian Bach, the legendary composer, and the lesser-known Bulgarian State Television Female Vocal Choir.
You can find the full list below and listen to Andy Summers’ favourite records of all time, one after the other, in the playlist below.
Andy Sumner’s five favourite albums:
- Thelonious Monk – Brilliant Corners
- Julian Bream – 20th Century Guitar
- Luiz Bonfá – Le Roi de la Bossa Nova
- Wes Montgomery – The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery
- Yo-Yo Ma – Bach Cello Suites
- The Bulgarian State Television Female Vocal Choir – Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares
