Biography

Trumpeter and composer André 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.  Before relocating to London in 2008, André 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, André 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.  He has also performed extensively throughout the US and Europe.

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 Derek Nash, Ivo Neame, Peter Conway (Decca Records), Lizzy Parks, Tammy Weiss, Liz Cass and Andy Fleet.  He has played some of London’s finest venues including Ronnie Scott’s, 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.

As a leader, André plays and composes for the André Canniere Group, a quintet originally formed in New York with saxophonist Josh Rutner, guitarist Ryan Ferreira, bassist Ike Sturm and drummer Ted Poor.  Canniere's debut CD As of Yet (Omatic Records) 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.

André 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.  André 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.  His music was featured at the Rochester International Jazz Festival during a performance by the Toby Koenigsberg Group, and two of his compositions are featured on Koenigsberg’s 2007 release, Sense (Origin Records).   Currently, he is working on a commission for the Jazz Ministry at St. Peter’s Church in New York City to compose a Mass scored for a 15 piece ensemble.

In addition to his work as a performer and composer, André 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, André 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.

André graduated from the Eastman School of Music in 2003 where he earned his MM in Jazz Performance.  While at Eastman, he 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.  André was also a student at the Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Arts in 1995.  Additional teachers include Mark Gould, Chris Martin, Tim Hagans, John Swana and Terell Stafford.