André Fernandes

André 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 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, Jorge Reis, Carlos Barretto, Akiko Pavolka, Jarmo Savolainen, Furio diCastri, Phil Markowitz and João 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, Guimarães, Matosinhos, Porto 2001, Jazz Fest Quinta Splendida, Serralves, Loulé, Marinha Grande, Valado dos Frades and the Kainuu JazzFest, Finland,, Spain, Greece, among others.

In 2002 he co-founded the Tone of a Pitch label and studios, and released his first CD as a leader, “O Osso” (Toap001), which was voted one of the 5 best portuguese jazz albums in 2002 by AllJazz Magazine critics poll. He also recorded with the Bernardo Moreira Sextet for Universal, and toured Finland with pianist Jarmo Savolainen.

He began working with his new band sPiLL, merging Jazz and Electronica, and performed at the Belem Cultural Center Hall in Lisbon, and the Paredes de Coura Rock Fest. That same year he recorded “Pueblos” with the Jorge Reis 4tet, as well as his Quintet's second album “Howler”, that was awarded the maximum 5 stars by Diario de Noticias. He then toured Spain as part of the Nelson Cascais Quintet, alongside tenor Jesus Santandreu, and pianist Abe Rabade.

2004 begins with sPiLL's CD recording in Lisbon, Boston and NY, and the invitation to become a part of 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. He also played on “Nine Stories”, a critically acclaimed cd by Nelson Cascais.

Spill's CD “Amplitude” is released. He formed Eurobots, a trio with Jesse Chandler and João Lencastre, to which David Binney or João Moreira have been added on different occasions. By the end of 2005, he played on Mário Franco's “This Life”, featuring David Binney. Records and tours with the OJM Orquestra with Lee Konitz, directed by Ohad Talmor.Currently plays with the Lee Konitz New Nonet and has recentlly toured Spain and Portugal with Perico Sambeat.

In November 2006, Colectivo T.O.A.P., a cooperative effort by artists that have recorded for Toneofapitch, Fernandes' own label, released “Volume I”. More can be expected from Colectivo T.O.A.P. in the future... His new album, featuring a quintet with Matt Renzi, Pete Rende, Matt Pavolka and André Sousa Machado and a quartet with Jesse Chandler, Nelson Cascais, and Alexandre Frazão, was released in December 2006.

SOME BANDS I PLAY WITH:

- Spill

- André Fernandes Trio (with Bernardo Moreira + Bruno Pedroso)

- André Fernandes New Quartet (with Jesse Chandler + Nelson Cascais + Alex Frazão)

- André Fernandes Quintet (with Matt Renzi + Pete Rende + Matt Pavolka + André Sousa Machado)

- Eurobots (with Jesse Chandler + João Lencastre)

- Lee Konitz New Nonet

- Nelson Cascais 5tet

- Pedro Moreira 5tet + Strings

- Rocky Marsiano

- Mário Franco 5tet

- Jorge Reis Quartet