Born: March 10, 1976 Primary Instrument: Guitar
Andr Fernandes was born in Lisbon in 1976.
He finished his studies at the HotClub of Portugal Jazz School where he nowadays teaches Guitar, Analysis, and Ensemble. Also teaches at the Madeira Conservatory. In 1996 was awarded a scholarship from Berklee College of Music that he attended for two years, until he moved to New York City. 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.
Amongst his collaborations are musicians like Chris Cheek, Cyro Baptista, Perico Sambeat, Julian Arguelles, Eli Degibri, Pedro Moreira, Bernardo Moreira, Alexi Tuomarila Quartet, Jorge Reis, Carlos Barreto, Toms Pimentel, Jarmo Savolainen, Furio diCastri , Phil Markowitz and Joo Paulo Esteves da Silva. He has played the major concert halls and Jazz Festivals in Portugal like Belem Cultural Center, Teatro S.Luiz, Coimbra, Funchal, Guimares, Matosinhos, Porto 2001, Serralves, Loul, Marinha Grande, Valado dos Frades and the Kainuu JazzFest, Finland, among others. He recorded his first CD as a leader: “O Osso” (Toap001) with Julian Arguelles, Peter Rende, Bernardo Moreira and Jochen Rueckert, that was voted one of the five best portuguese jazz albums in 2002, by the All Jazz magazine critics poll. Also in 2002 he co-founded the Tone of a Pitch label and studios, for whom he worked as a producer and engineer in several albums. He also recorded with the Bernardo Moreira Sextet for Universal, the CD Ao Paredes Confesso (Emarcy066890-2).He started his new project mixing acoustic and electronic sounds Spill, that performed at the prestigious CCB Auditorium in Lisbon,Paredes de Coura Rock Fest and closed the 6th edition of Valado dos Frades JazzFest. In 2003 he recorded Pueblos (Toap004) with alto player Jorge Reis band, and his second release as a leader Howler.He also recorded with pianist Jarmo Savolainen for the National Finnish Radio in Helsinki.
