Trumpeter and composer Andre Canniere has worked with some of the world’s most well known and respected jazz musicians including Maria Schneider, Donny McCaslin, Kate McGarry, James Carney, Mike Holober, Wolter Wierbos, Ingrid Jensen, Ben Monder, Tim Hagans, Rich Perry, Jim McNeely and Bill Holman. From 2003 until 2008, Andre lived in New York City where he was a regular member of several groups such as Darcy James Argue's Secret Society, the Astoria Symphony, Angela Ortiz, Bjorkestra, the Industrial Jazz Group and the Westchester Chamber Orchestra. While in New York, Andre maintained an active freelance career as a trumpet player, frequently appearing with pop artists, singer/songwriters, function bands and various other ensembles. He has performed at several notable venues in New York including Carnegie Hall, Birdland, The Jazz Gallery, Symphony Space, Kavehaz, the Knitting Factory, the Bowery Poetry Club and CBGB’s. Andre has also performed in many cities throughout the United States including Boston, Washington D.C., Portland, Chicago and Philadelphia.
Since moving to London, André has been involved in numerous projects, both as a leader and as a sideman. As a sideman, André has been performing and recording with a wide variety of musicians including Peter Conway (Decca Records), Lizzy Parks, Tammy Weiss, Jonathan Bratoëff, Mark Hanslip, Ivo Neame, Liz Cass and Andy Fleet. He has played some of London’s finest venues including Blackheath Concert Halls, The Vortex, Pizza on the Park, The 606 Club, The Cobden Club, The Soho Revue and The Spice of Life and he performs frequently in cities throughout the rest of the UK. In 2009 Canniere was featured at the Riverfront Jazz Festival in Greenwich with Jools Holland saxophonist Derek Nash.
As a leader, Andre plays and composes for the Andre Canniere Group, a quintet originally formed in New York City with saxophonist Josh Rutner, guitarist Ryan Ferreira, bassist Ike Sturm and drummer Ted Poor. Canniere's debut CD As of Yet (Omatic Records), released in 2006, has garnered praise from All About Jazz and Cadence Magazine, among other publications, and is currently available at CD Baby, iTunes, Amazon and many additional online music retailers. After forming a London-based version of the group, Canniere was invited to perform at the HSBC Cheltenham Jazz Festival in May 2008 and in 2009 the group was recommended by TimeOut London.
Aside from his work in the US and the UK, Andre has played extensively throughout Europe. Highlights include performances at The Hague Jazz Festival and BimHuis in Amsterdam as well as venues in Rome, Venice, Florence, Salzburg, Munich and Brussels.
Canniere is also a composer and has written works for various instrumental settings, including large and small jazz ensemble, studio orchestra and chamber groups. His music often crosses the boundaries of genre and culture, infusing improvisational music with traditional jazz and classical styles, as well as drawing inspiration from folk and pop music. Andre received his first commission in 2007 from the Astoria Music Society to arrange a work featuring the music of Cole Porter for symphony orchestra and mezzo-soprano. In 2003, Andre performed his music at the Rochester International Jazz Festival with the Toby Koenigsberg Group, and two of his compositions are featured on Toby’s 2007 release, Sense (Origin Records). Currently, he is working on a commission from St. Peter’s (the jazz vespers church in New York) for a jazz mass scored for a 15 piece ensemble which will feature several well known soloists.
In addition to his work as a performer and composer, Andre is an active music educator. In the United States, he visited several schools working either as a guest clinician, featured performer or guest conductor. He was a member of the faculty at Musika and Encore Music in Manhattan from 2003 - 2008. In the past, Canniere has served as an assistant professor at the Eastman School of Music and as an instructor at the Pennsylvania Governor's School for the Arts. Currently, Andre is Head of Brass at London’s Highgate School and a tutor in the jazz department at Trinity College of Music. He also teaches privately, works as an adjudicator and often gives master classes and clinics at schools and universities.
Andre graduated from the Eastman School of Music in 2003 where he earned his MM in Jazz Performance. While at Eastman, Andre studied trumpet with Clay Jenkins, James Thompson and Douglas Prosser and received various honors including a teaching assistantship and a Down Beat Award. He received his BM in Trumpet Performance from Mansfield University of Pennsylvania in 2001 where he studied with Dr. Michael Galloway. Andre was also a student at the Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Arts in 1995. Additional teachers include Mark Gould, Chris Martin, Tim Hagans, Fred Sturm, Harold Danko, Ben Schachter, John Swana and Terell Stafford.
More information about André including upcoming performances, recordings and press materials can be found at www.andrecanniere.com.
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