Fernando Saunders

World class bass player/singer/songwriter/producer, Fernando Saunders is releasing his 3rd CD I Will Break Your Fall featuring duets with long time collaborators Lou Reed and Marianne Faithfull. Rolling Stone Magazine says it’s “an album of beautifully crafted pop songs and ballads that tug at the heart strings. The duet with Lou Reed [“Baton Rouge”] is achingly beautiful.” The CD will be released in Canada on June 17, 2008 on Summit/Conveyor//Universal while Saunders will be in Toronto for the North By North East Festival as a touring panelist and possible showcase tbc.
Saunders came to international prominence as one of the core players with pop artist, Hamilton Bohannon, and then as a key member of the pioneering rock/jazz ensemble, The Jeff Beck/Jan Hammer Group. In the early '80s, Saunders started long-term collaborations as a player, producer and co-songwriter, with the esteemed urban rockers Reed and Faithfull
The new release will have an exclusive bonus track “Delusion” and a new remix of “I Will Break Your Fall.” Musicians will love the two instrumental jams “Bass Talk” and “Live in Spain” which take the listener on a musical journey from improvisational jazz to funk to Latin inspired rock while showcasing Saunders mastery on bass. Two alternate versions of “Lover” and “All For You” are included which were recorded in Iceland with pared-down arrangements. Canada’s Kevin Hearn (Barenaked Ladies) is featured on piano on the Marianne Faithfull duet “Backstreet Girl.”
During his career Saunders traveled the world recording and performing with music legends Joan Baez, Steve Winwood, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Joe Cocker, Slash, Heart, Pat Benatar, Tori Amos, Kip Hanrahan, John McLaughlin and even Pavarotti. Saunders recalls “at first the rock artists wanted me involved because of my r&b and jazz background, but then after years in rock the R&B and jazz artists wanted me for my rock experience.”
Saunders has recorded and produced three critically acclaimed solo albums, Cashmere Dreams (Grudge/BMG), The Spin (A&M) and the current I Will Break Your Fall (Summit/Conveyor//Universal).