Biography

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 extensively throughout the US and Europe.

Since moving to London, Andre has been involved in numerous projects, both as a leader and as a sideman. The Andre Canniere Group, a quintet originally formed in New York with saxophonist Josh Rutner, guitarist Ryan Ferreira, bassist Ike Sturm and drummer Ted Poor, has been reformed in the UK and featured at the HSBC Cheltenham Jazz Festival in May 2008. 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. As a sideman, Andre has been performing and recording with a wide variety of musicians including Peter Conway (Decca Records), Lizzy Parks, Nostalgia 77, Jasper Hoiby, Chris Vatalaro, Sam Sharp and Alan Hardiman.

Andre 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. Throughout 2007, he visited several schools as a guest clinician and featured performer and in 2006 he was the guest conductor of the PMEA District 8 Jazz Ensemble. 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 the Head of Brass at the Highgate School in London. 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 and Terell Stafford.

Recording Credits

DISCOGRAPHY
Andre Canniere As Of Yet 2006
Lizzy Parks LP In Production 2008
Industrial Jazz Group LEEF 2008
Fredo Viola The Sad Song EP 2008
Toby Koenigsberg (as a composer) Sense 2006
Angela Ortiz All About You 2006
James Moorhead James Moorhead 2005
Mairead Live At The Living Room 2005
Ike Sturm Spirit 2004
Astoria Symphony Requiem 2004

FILM
The Living Wake 2007
Harlem's Blues 2006
Devil's Proxy 2004