André Carvalho on SoundBetter

Portuguese Double Bassist and composer based in NYC and Lisbon; more than 15 years of professional experience in bands: Jazz, Indie, Experimental. I want to bring your song to the highest level, putting my feel and knowledge into your musical vision. I have a grounded bass sound, I can improvise, read and bow since I'm classical trained as well.

Portuguese jazz bassist and composer André Carvalho is an active NYC freelancer whose works AllAboutJazz described as “both in bounds and out of this world.” Nate Chinen of The New York Times dubbed Carvalho a bassist “you should get to know.” André has played with Jazz stars Chris Cheek, Will Vinson, and Tommy Crane. And André’s performance credits range from the Colors Jazz Festival (Paris), the Cairo Jazz Festival, and Jazz Festival Ljubliana, to venues such as Blue Note (New York), Konzerthaus Berlin, and Casa da Música (Porto).

Among the awards he has received are the “Carlos Paredes 2012” (a major annual prize that celebrates Portuguese music and culture) and the “Best Group” at Bucharest International Jazz Competition 2011. In addition, he has received multiple grants from the GDA Foundation to record (“Memória de Amiba”) and to tour (2017 and 2019).

The scope of his work extends far beyond Jazz. With multi-Grammy award winner Gilberto Gil, André toured Europe performing his new opera “Prelúdio.” The collaboration included Nova Ópera de Lisboa and the drumming ensemble Cortejo Afro, premiering portions of the new work in venues such as the Barbican Center (London) and Finlandia Talo (Helsinki). He has performed with classical conductors Gustavo Dudamel, Heinrich Schiff, and Franz Welser-Möst and collaborated with Fado singers Carlos do Carmo and Cristina Branco.

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Interview with André Carvalho

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: I'm specially proud of my latest release and upcoming release. The latest was considered for Grammys 2019 and was inspired by the famous painting "The Garden of Earthly Delights" by Hieronymus Bosch. This project was performed in venues such as Blue Note NYC, The Owl Parlor (Brooklyn), Centro de Arte Contemporanea (Sevilla), Hot Clube de Portugal (Lisbon), among many more. My upcoming album is inspired by untranslatable words. After reflecting on the importance and beauty of these untranslatable pearls, I felt an inner urge to compose a new cycle titled “Lost in Translation”. I believe that by learning words, our conscience becomes more sensitive to others, we become more empathetic and our world becomes richer.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: My 4th album as leader, inspired by untranslatable words. I composed all the music for a new trio and it should come out later in 2021.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: I promise I will give you my very best.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: Giving my best to help a client with his song. Elevate his music to a higher level.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What are his intentions with this song? What does he visualize when imagining the song? What are his references? What are his favourite artists?
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: I think that my experience speaks for itself. I have worked in many different genres and with a lot of different people, so my knowledge and awareness for what a client will ask is high. First of all, I will listen carefully to what the client wants so that I can give my best.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I have been performing, composing and arranging for more than 15 years. In the Jazz universe, I have performed with Will Vinson, Billy Mintz, Tommy Crane, Chris Cheek, Jeremy Powell, Colin Stranahan, André Matos, among many more. The scope of my work extends far beyond Jazz, including the multi-Grammy award winner Gilberto Gil, where I toured Europe performing his new opera “Prelúdio", in venues such as the Barbican Center (London) and Finlandia Talo (Helsinki). I have performed with classical conductors Gustavo Dudamel, Heinrich Schiff, and Franz Welser-Möst and collaborated with Fado singers Carlos do Carmo and Cristina Branco. My background was anything but traditional. I holds degrees from Manhattan School of Music and the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. I relocated to the US in 2014 as a Fulbright grantee. While finishing my first bachelor in Computer Science (Faculdade de Ciências Lisbon), he fell in love with music, leading me to study at the Hot Club de Portugal and Academia de Amadores de Música (with Fernando Flores) in Lisbon.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Open-minded and flexible.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Jazz, Improvised music, Experimental but also Indie Pop and Pop. I also compose a lot of music for my groups and commissions.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Understanding and hearing what a client wants.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: My feel and knowledge of more than 15 years performing, composing and arranging music at a professional level.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I talk with the client to understand what is his goal and references. Then, I listen to what he has and create something based on that.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Larry Grenadier, Charlie Haden, Ron Carter, Ray Brown.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Perform and record. Create bass lines for songs. Compose and arrange.