Andy Summers’ six favourite albums
Andy Summers, guitarist for The Police, named albums that shaped his musical outlook, favouring adventurous records across jazz, classical guitar and Brazilian music. His choices show how artists beyond rock helped expand his approach to guitar and melody.
The article lists Thelonious Monk’s *Brilliant Corners*, Julian Bream’s *20th Century Guitar*, Luiz Bonfá’s *Le Roi de la Bossa Nova* and Wes Montgomery’s *The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery*. Summers said Monk encouraged him to think beyond musical conventions, while Bream and Montgomery opened up new possibilities on guitar; the article also mentions works by Sebastian Bach and the Bulgarian State Television Female Vocal Choir.
- Summers’ choices span jazz, classical guitar and Brazilian music.
- Monk, Bream and Montgomery broadened his musical perspective.
- The selections reflect his curiosity about sound and technique.
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The Police were a British rock band whose best-known songs include “Roxanne” and “Every Breath You Take”. Andy Summers played guitar in the group, which combined rock with elements of reggae and other styles.
The albums mentioned span several traditions. Thelonious Monk was an influential American jazz pianist and composer; Julian Bream was a British classical guitarist and lutenist; Luiz Bonfá was a Brazilian guitarist and composer associated with bossa nova; and Wes Montgomery was an influential American jazz guitarist. The choices also include music by the classical composer Johann Sebastian Bach and a Bulgarian women’s choir.
Together, the records show how Summers drew ideas from beyond rock when developing his approach to guitar and melody. They also point to the wide range of musical traditions that have shaped popular musicians.