Multi-instrumentalists and reed masters, identical twins Peter and Will Anderson, were born in Washington, DC and raised in Bethesda, MD, where early on they showed interest and aptitude in jazz music. The pair were well-mentored in their early studies, including by saxophonist Paul Carr and drummer-vibraphonist Chuck Redd. They 
subsequently earned Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from Julliard, where they both received the Illinois Jacquet Scholarship in Jazz Studies. Their professional rise has included headlining and performances with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Wycliffe Gordon, Cecile McLorin Salvant, Paquito D’Rivera, Tootie Heath, Ken Peplowski, Steve Turre, Warren Vache, Frank Vignola and Wynton Marsalis, among many others. They can be heard on the 2014 Grammy-winning soundtrack of HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire,” with Vince Giordano’s Nighthawks. They also received a 2014 Drama Desk nomination for their Off-Broadway Production, Le Jazz Hot and were 2018 Bistro Award winners. The brothers can also be heard and seen in motion pictures Revolutionary Road and Killers of the Flower Moon, and on television in “The Marvelous Ms. Maisel.”
P&WA: We want the public to have a renewed interest and appreciation for jazz music. We strive to have our listeners leaving our show feeling happy and more inspired about the beauty of the world, forgetting about their frustrations and problems. This is why we do what we do.
NLE: There’s a lot of jazz to be covered in that journey—over a hundred years worth. How did you arrive at the choices of musicians and music you wanted to include in this program?
P&WA: The musicians joining us will be Bruce Harris and Wayne Tucker, trumpet; Neal Miner and Clovis Nicolas, bass; Paul Wells, drums; and Dalton Ridenhour, piano. These musicians are all very close to us, and we have collaborated with them extensively over the years. They all share our musical tastes and are very well rounded in all the different styles of jazz—Early New Orleans, Swing Era, Bebop and Modern Jazz. We are thrilled to have them all involved with the show.
NLE: What do you consider the most important contribution(s) that jazz has made to American culture inside and outside of music?
P&WA: This is what we’ll discuss in the show! Jazz has challenged societal norms, and brought people together from all around the world. It has also been a reflection of American culture through times of war, financial crises, and social change.
NLE: Where is the journey of jazz going to take us in the next few years?
P&WA: Jazz will keep progressing as long as there are great musicians carrying the torch, and supportive and passionate fans to enjoy it. As Duke Ellington said, “listening is the key.” We will also be incorporating some original music in this show, so watch out! We will be recording a brand new album next year with some original music of ours. Stay tuned!
