Angel Fernández Trumpeter, Guitarist, Arranger, Composer, Producer
Birthplace: Santiago, Dominican Republic
Angel Fernández' musical career demonstrates a creative scope that spans many genres Latin and Pop, Jazz and Rock, Funk and classical music. He has worked with such diverse artists as Salsa superstar Marc Anthony, Talking Head David Byrne and Salsa/Latin jazz great Ray Barretto, to name a few. His skills as producer, composer, arranger and performer can be heard on many recordings.
From his humble beginnings in Santiago, D.R., then in Brooklyn, NY, Angel demonstrated an affinity for music. The sixth of nine children, he played drums while in the fourth grade and soon began studying trumpet. By his teens, he added the guitar to his repertoire. His love for R&B, rock and popular music during high school led him to meet schoolmates Kenny Kirkland (formerly with Wynton Marsalis, Sting, The Tonight Show Band, etc.) and Skip Breves, both of whom would become Angel's lifelong friends and musical influences. The trio also took part in a musical group covering popular songs of Stevie Wonder, Chicago, Sly & the Family Stone, Edgar Winter, Mandrill, Neil Young and many others while playing the Catholic high school dance circuit.
A graduate of New Yorks prestigious Manhattan School of Music, where he majored in trumpet, Angel holds both a Bachelor and Master of Music degree. While at the conservatory, he was given the opportunity to substitute for his teacher, jazz trumpeter Jimmy Owens, with the Collective Black Artists Ensemble. That event was a milestone in Ange'ls career, as it was a concert honoring Afro-Cuban legend Machito at NYCs Town Hall. Upon hearing Angel play, Machito offered him a position in his band.
The early 1980s saw Angel playing with Mille, Jocelyn y Los Vecinos, a popular band specializing in Merengue, the music of his homeland. He toured internationally with Ray Barretto from 1981-1988, playing the most prestigious venues and festivals in Europe, North and South America and the Caribbean. It was also through this association that he would gain prominence as an arranger, writing on commercially successful and Grammy nominated albums such as Irresistible, Aqui Se Puede and Todo Se Va Poder. He achieved Grammy success with the 1990 award-winning Ceila Cruz/Ray Barretto album, Ritmo En El Corazon, in which Angel contributed half the arrangements as well as his trumpet playing.
The next step in his career was becoming Musical Director for David Byrne from 1989-1992, once again touring the world. He participated as trumpeter/arranger/composer on Byrne's albums Rei Momo and Uh-oh (Sire/Warner Bros.). In 1994, Angel began an association with the Ballet Hispanico of New York, creating musical landscapes for pieces by such acclaimed choreographers as Alberto Alonzo (Cuba), Ramon Oller (Spain) and Vicente Nebrda (Venezuela).
In the meantime, he joined Marc Anthony's Salsa band in 1993 and officially became its Musical Director in 1995 - a position he still holds, overseeing the music of the bands live presentations and tours. He arranged and performed on Anthony's Grammy nominated Todo A Su Tiempo and produced Marcs Asi Como Hoy single for the 1996 Olympics. He arranged and played trumpet/guitar on the Jennifer Lopez album, J. Lo (Sony) and has consistently worked with international artists, among them Las Ketchups (Spain), Alberto Shiroma (Japan) and Grupo Niche (Latin America).
His film credits (as arranger, composer, performer or producer) include Blue In The Face, Boricua's Bond, My Blue Heaven, and others. Television performances include Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show, The Rosie ODonell Show, The Today Show, MAD TV, The Early Show, several Grammy and Latin Grammy ceremonies and a full-hour HBO live concert special featuring Marc Anthony and the band.
Other producing credits include:
-Michael Stuart's highly acclaimed debut CD, Cuentos de la Vecindad (RMM/MCA Records) -Michael Stuart's Retratos -Johnny Riveras, Un Estilo Propio (RMM/MCA Records) -Completamente Tuya (WEA Latino) the recording debut for 20 year-old Cuban vocalist, Lazz -Domingo Quinones' CD, Poeta y Guerrero (RMM).
He also produced four songs for Frankie Negron's release, Lo Que Llevo Por Dentro (WEA Latina) and four songs for the aforementioned film Boricua's Bond (USA/October Films) starring Frankie Negron, Big Pun and Method Man.
Angel Fernández continues his chart-topping success with recent productions for EMI artist Obie Bermudez with the singles Me Canse De Ti and Antes, both of which have charted #1 on Billboard Magazine's Hot Latin and Tropical charts, as well the hit single 4:30 AM. Salsa versions of Amor, Amor for actress/singer Roselyn Sanchez, and Te Gusta Verme Sufrir for Michael Stuart both produced by Angel Fernández, have also been on the charts recently.
Current projects include the 2005 Grammy Award winning CD Across 110th St. Featuring Ruben Blades, by the Spanish Harlem Orchestra in which Fernández arranged 2 songs, including an original composition performed and written by Mr. Blades; Jimmy Bosch's CD, El Avion de la Salsa, which Angel produced and directed; and the CD by Transito, La Nueva Combinacion.
Other productions, arrangements and/or compositions worthy of note:
-Gran Dia en el Barrio by The Spanish Harlem Orchestra. (Latin -Grammy nominated CD) -Sweet Invisibility by Hue and Cry, from Remote (Virgin Records) -Mr. Jones by Talking Heads, from Naked (Sire/Warner Bros.) -Tu Nuevo Amor and Lady in Red by Junior González -Tidbits by Charlie Sepulveda (Polydor Records) -Make Believe Mambo and Hangin Upside Down by David Byrne (Luaka Bop/Warner Bros.) -My Affair by Kirsty MacColl, (Virgin Records) -A Usted by Angel Canales -Hoy Me Siento Sola by Millie, Jocelyn y Los Vecinos -Me Niego a Perderte by George Lamond (Prestigio -"Lloran Las Rosas" Dominic, from Mi Gran Sueño (Prestigio) -"Grace" by Ralph Irizarry & Timbalaye
With such impressive output and highly diverse body of work, it is no surprise that Angel Fernández has maintained a long and successful career. Well regarded by his peers, his musicality is matched only by his humble and straightforward approach to the business.