Testimonials

“James creates one of the most amazing musical experiences you’ve ever had.”

-Contemporary Fusion Reviews

“A prodigiously gifted composer and virtuoso pianist.”

-World Music Report

“Listening to James’ seemingly effortless command of the piano provides no small amount of satisfaction.”

-Textura Magazine

“Cutting edge. Fernando should inspire forward thinking pianists across the genre spectrums.”

-Chalked Up Reviews

“His touch on the ivories is deep and thoughtful.”

-Jazz Weekly

“Fernando’s sense of creativity is vibrant, he is limitless in his ability to articulate his ideas.”

-Jazz Sensibilities

“With each note he plays, James creates another constellation within his vast universe of sound that he shares with us.”

-Tiger Okoshi

“Fernando opens a multitude of doors for other composers.”

-The Vinyl Anachronist

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Short Bio

Hailed as a “prodigiously gifted composer and virtuoso pianist,” James Fernando creates music that lies at the intersection of jazz, classical, and electronic music. He uses innovative original compositions to bring dynamic and joyful performances to some of the world’s most renowned stages. A Berklee College of Music graduate, James has five albums to his name and has collaborated with award winning artists internationally.

Long Bio

James Fernando has been hailed by World Music Report as a “prodigiously gifted composer and virtuoso pianist,” by Jazz Sensibilities as “limitless in his ability to articulate his ideas,” and by Contemporary Fusion Reviews as “creating one of the most amazing musical experiences you’ve ever had.”

Having served as a Strathmore Artist in Residence for the 2021/2022 season, James’ many accolades include awards from Downbeat Magazine, the National Young Arts Foundation, and first prize at the West Virginia International Piano Competition. In 2017, he participated in the historic Banff International Workshop in Jazz & Creative Music. James studied at Berklee College of Music, where he graduated summa cum laude after three years.

James Fernando has performed publicly at leading venues and festivals internationally. He has also performed privately for elected officials, celebrities, and billionaires. Some of the notable artists he has collaborated with are GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award winner Tom Paxton, GRAMMY award winners Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer, steelpan virtuoso Victor Provost, and jazz luminary Chris Cheek.

An active recording artist, James has five albums to his name. In 2018, he collaborated with Mingjia to create Extended Layover. He released his first album as a solo artist, The Lonely Sailor, to widespread critical acclaim one year later. After his next solo project, Blackbird/Fly, came out in 2021, he teamed up with Matt Lagan to release his fourth album, The Grind. His most recent creation, Piano Poetry, was released in 2023.

In addition to being a highly sought after pianist and composer, James is a talented educator and he leads workshops at universities and community music schools across the United States. He a faculty member at Levine Music in Washington, D.C.

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