Short Bio

Hailed as a “prodigiously gifted composer and virtuoso pianist,” British-American jazz musician James Fernando blends musical traditions from across cultures and eras into dynamic and joyful performances. He has performed at festivals and leading venues in the U.S. and abroad, released six albums, and collaborated with acclaimed artists across genres.

Long Bio

James Fernando is a British-American jazz pianist and composer who blends musical traditions across eras and cultures into dynamic and joyful performances. Fernando has been called “a marvel” by Jazz Weekly, while Couleurs Jazz praised his “dazzling virtuosity” and “playful mischief.”

A 2026 Gilmore Festival Fellow, Fernando has been featured in DownBeat and selected by WRTI as a Philly Made featured artist. He won first prize at the West Virginia International Piano Competition, was a Strathmore Artist in Residence in 2022, and participated in the Banff International Workshop in Jazz & Creative Music in 2017. He graduated summa cum laude from Berklee College of Music in 2017 after three years of study.

In 2026, Fernando’s trio completed a 10-week residency at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the first of its kind at the institution. As a bandleader, he has also performed at the Kennedy Center and DC JazzFest, as well as festivals and leading venues across the U.S. and abroad. His collaborators include GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award winner Tom Paxton, GRAMMY winners Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer, steelpan virtuoso Victor Provost, and jazz luminary Chris Cheek.

Fernando has released six albums spanning a diverse and evolving body of work. His latest, Philly 3 (2026), is his debut album with his jazz trio and was released by Spring Garden Records. DownBeat described the trio as “swinging within an inch of its ever loving life,” while Paris Move called the album a “defining statement.” The album also charted on the JazzWeek radio charts. His previous releases include Extended Layover (2018, with Mingjia), The Lonely Sailor (2019), Blackbird/Fly (2021), The Grind (2022, with Matt Lagan), and Piano Poetry (2023). Fernando is also a sought-after collaborator, appearing on numerous recordings by other artists.

His next album, Still Alive in Philly, will be released by Spring Garden Records in 2027. Created in collaboration with the label, the live recording grew out of a series of Philadelphia performances that raised funds for Philly Bike Action to support safer cycling infrastructure in the city.

Fernando teaches piano and contemporary music virtually through Levine Music to students nationwide. He regularly leads workshops and masterclasses at universities and community music schools in the communities where he performs.