André de Cayres is a bassist, composer and arranger from São Paulo, Brazil. He started his career as a professional musician at the age of seventeen in São Paulo and quickly developed a love for jazz and good Brazilian music. He went to Germany to study jazz and electric bass at the renowned Musikhochschule in Cologne and then acoustic bass at the Folkwang Universität in Essen. André is very active in the jazz, Latin and world music scene. He plays double bass, ebas, did the compositions and arrangements, and also sings. In addition, his septet includes Mara Minjoli (vocals), João Luis Nogueira (acoustic guitar), Mauro Martins (drums, percussion), Rodolfo Neves (trumpet, bow), Thorsten Heitzmann (trombone) and Marcio Tubino (sax, flute, vocals). After a career spanning 36 years and more than a hundred recordings, during which he collaborated with the biggest names in the European and Brazilian music scene, André releases his first solo album with his own compositions and arrangements. The album, entitled ‘Família’, contains compositions dedicated to and inspired by his family and friends. He wrote ‘Família’ when his first son was born, then there is a piece for his grandparents, for his mother, for his children, for his wife, a piece for his siblings and friends, a collective improvisation in which the musicians draw on the ecological situation, the wars and poverty that threaten our planet on ‘Salvem o Planeta’, and one that describes memories of his youth, of the brass bands that played in the streets of his hometown on ‘Frevo no Coreto’. The compositions follow the Brazilian jazz tradition of using folkloric rhythms, but through the singing they acquire a melodic vocal quality. Rhythms like Partido Alto, Samba, Frevo, Maracatu and Baião are interpreted by the well-rehearsed rhythm section and form the basis for arrangements and improvisations from the perspective of a musician who has lived in Europe for over twenty years. However, sometimes some improvisations are involved. Too bad there is no bossa nova on it.
		Website André de Cayres Tracks: Familia Avós Filhos Rapha Mäe Irmãos Frevo no coreto Salvem o planeta