André Fernandes

Considered as a highly inventive and strong guitar player and composer, André Fernandes is one of the most active and versatile young musicians today. Based in Lisbon, Portugal, Fernandes has developed a unique personality throughout the years by regularly playing as a sideman and leader with numerous musicians such as Lee Konitz, David Binney, Tomasz Stanko, Julian Arguelles, Mário Laginha, Bernardo Sassetti or singer Maria João. The two years he spent as part of the Lee Konitz New Nonet made his presence in the european scene more and more regular until today. However it is his work as a leader that has gained him recognition with audiences and critics alike. He was considered portuguese Musician of the Year by the respected “Y” publication the same year he released “Cubo”, a quartet álbum with pianist Mário Laginha that became a turnpoint in his recordings and was voted Best Portuguese Jazz Álbum by the press. He got involved with writing and playing guitar in his very early teens, and moved to the USA to study at age 19. After some years spent in Boston and in New York, Fernandes returned to his native Lisbon, started a label called Tone of a Pitch, and began a non stop journey of development of his music, and of helping other young musicians to accomplish the same through his label. Since then, he is an extremely active guitar player, both as a leader and sideman, a situation he really enjoys for the contact with other people ́s music and ideas. As a leader he has put together projects with many musicians he admires such as Pete Rende, Jorge Rossy, Mário Laginha, Matt Renzi, Avishai Cohen(tp) or Bernardo Sassetti, and plays with his bands regularly. He has 5 cds under his own name : “O Osso”, “Timbuktu”, “Howler”, “Cubo” and “Imaginário”. As a sideman he has played and/or recorded with numerous people like Mário Laginha, Tomasz Stanko, Lee Konitz, Chris Cheek, Mark Turner, Cyro Baptista, Perico Sambeat, Bernardo Moreira, Maria Joao, David Binney, Julian Arguelles, Eli Degibri, Dan Weiss, Bill McHenry, Pedro Moreira, Pete Rende, Alexi Tuomarila, Carlos Martins, Bernardo Moreira, Carlos Barreto, Bernardo Sassetti, Jarmo Savolainen and Furio diCastri among many others. For two and a half years he regularly toured Europe with the Lee Konitz New Nonet, and also had the privilege of doing it at Carnegie Hall for Lee ́s 80th birthday celebration concert. He also frequently collaborates with the Orquestra Jazz de Matosinhos (OJM) with whom he had the opportunity to work with Maria Schneider, John Hollenbeck and Theo Bleckman, Chris Cheek, Joshua Redman, Maria Rita, Mark Turner and others, and with whom he recorded the álbum “Portology” with Lee Konitz, and “Amoras e Framboesas” with singer Maria João. OJM also had him to perform a special program for him as guest soloist. Also the Lausanne BigBand based in Switzerland has had Fernandes over to perform alongside Chris Potter, Gregoire Maret and Ohad Talmor among others. He is featured on more than 20 records to date.