Artists
André Fernandes
Biography
André Fernandes was born in Lisbon, Portugal, in 1976. He studied at the Lisbon Hot Club School and later at Berklee College of Music. During his time in the USA he studied with Hal Crook , John Abercrombie, Jerry Bergonzi, Mick Goodrick, Kenny Werner, among others. He was awarded the ´Stephen Holland Award for Outstanding Musicianship´.
He is now an extremely active guitar player collaborating with musicians like Lee Konitz, Mário Laginha, Chris Cheek, Cyro Baptista, Ohad Talmor, Bill McHenry, Jochen Rueckert, Perico Sambeat, Julian Arguelles, David Binney, AviShai Cohen, Eli Degibri, Pedro Moreira, Alexi Tuomarila, Bernardo Moreira, Ohad Talmor, Jorge Reis, Carlos Barreto, Akiko Pavolka, Jarmo Savolainen, Furio diCastri , Phil Markowitz and João Paulo Esteves da Silva, amongst many others.
He has played the major concert halls and Jazz Festivals in Portugal like Belem Cultural Center, Teatro S.Luiz, Coimbra, Funchal, Guimarães, Matosinhos, Porto 2001, Serralves, Loulé, Marinha Grande, Valado dos Frades and toured all over Europe as a member of the Lee Konitz New Nonet, Jarmo Savolainen´s group and other bands. In 2002 he co-founded the Tone of a Pitch label and studios, and released his first CD as a leader: "O Osso" (Toap001). This record was voted one of the 5 best portuguese jazz albums in 2002 by AllJazz Magazine´s critics poll. He recorded his Quintet´s second album “Howler”, that was awarded the maximum 5 stars by Diario de Noticias.
2004 begins with his band sPiLL´s CD recording in Lisbon, Boston and NY, and the invitation to play with pianist Mario Laginha´s Quintet.
2005 brings him back to Festa do Jazz at S.Luis in Lisbon, to perform with Pedro Moreira's project with string quartet and Andreia Pinto Correia´s Jazz Orchestra, as well as having his comissioned piece for jazz septet performed at the Festival.
Records and tours with the OJM Orquestra with Lee Konitz, directed by Ohad Talmor. Joins the Perico Sambeat Quartet.
Currently plays with the Lee Konitz New Nonet, Perico Sambeat´s 4tet, Pedro Moreira, as well as his projects. His new Quartet includes pianist Mário Laginha, bassist Nelson Cascais and drummer Alex Frazão.
Recently released his 3rd CD "Timbuktu".