Lead alto saxophonist Mike Andres is a founding member of the Blue Wisp Big Band. A Cincinnati native, he was for many years the principal saxophonist with the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops, and is featured as the clarinet soloist on their recording of Rhapsody in Blue with Erich Kunzel and William Tritt. Mike was a staff musician at WLWT for 15 years, and has collaborated and/or recorded with local jazz greats Frank Brown, Frank Vincent, Dee Felice, Cal Collins, Kenny Poole and Lee Stolar, as well as with Frank Proto and the Symphony Jazz Ensemble.

As a woodwind specialist, he has played with dozens of artists, acts, and shows from A through Z—from Julie Andrews to Pia Zadora; from Anything Goes to Zorba the Greek. He has recorded with James Brown, Mel Torme, Doc Severinsen, and Eddie Daniels, to name a few. For many years he served as musical contractor, providing musicians for the Broadway Series, Riverbend, the Taft Theater, and the Cincinnati Ballet Orchestra.

Mike has taught at the College-Conservatory of Music and Miami University, and is a Board Member of Cincinnati Musicians Association.