Drummer. Composer. Bandleader.
Fernando García: Rhythmic Traditions, Global Stages.
A Chamber Music America award-winning artist, Fernando García bridges complex rhythmic traditions with contemporary jazz ensemble performance, creating a unique sound for international festivals and grant-funded commissions.
The Artist’s Journey
A Legacy of Innovation in Jazz
“Puerto Rican drummer Fernando García is part of a young vanguard of musicians who are celebrating the island’s folk traditions by studying it faithfully, reproducing it, then combining it with jazz in a sound that sounds familiar yet so-very-new.” -Felix Contreras, Alt. Latino – NPR
Born and raised in Puerto Rico, García holds degrees from the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico (B. A.), Berklee College of Music, Valencia, Spain (Master’s in Performance), and Teachers College, Columbia University (Master’s in Music Education). In New York City, he has established himself as a drummer, percussionist, composer, and educator. Throughout his career, he has worked equally as a leader and sideman playing with great musicians such as Gabriel Vicéns, Jan Kus, Víctor Pablo, Dan Martínez, Gabriel Chakarji, Cheo Pardo, Felipe Fournier, Ricardo Pons, Alain Pérez, Victor Mendoza, John Benitez, Ximo Tébar, Nathaniel Townsley, Jim Ridl, Boris Koslov, and Miguel Zenón, Alex “Apolo” Ayala, Ivan Renta, Mateo Gonzalez, among others.
As a bandleader, García has produced four albums: Desde Arriba (F. García Music, 2012), Subidor (Montalvo Records, 2013), Guásabara Puerto Rico (ZOHO Music, 2018), and Behique (Sunnyside Records 2023). Fernando received the prestigious New Jazz Works grant by Chamber Music America in 2021, and his latest album was recognized by Fundacion Para La Cultura Popular de Puerto Rico as one of the 20 most influential records by Puerto Ricans in the year 2023. Most recently García was awarded a second New Jazz Works Grant in June 2025 to continue his compositional works focusing on Afro-Puerto Rican music and jazz. In Feb 2026 he released his highly anticipated 5th studio album: Yocahú with the Long Islanbd City based label: Pinch Records.
Recognition
Institutional Honors and Commissions
Fernando García’s contributions to contemporary jazz have been recognized by leading arts organizations, supporting his vision for innovative rhythmic compositions and global collaborations.
Guasábara Puerto Rico
Released under the ZOHO Music label, the project seamlessly fuses modern jazz with traditional Afro-Puerto Rican rhythms like bomba (specifically styles like yubá, sicá, and holandé). It gained significant critical acclaim and was recognized as one of the standout Latin jazz releases of the year by The New York City Jazz Record in their Best of 2018 honors.cord Guasábara Puerto Rico
Chamber Music America
Two time recipient of the prestigious New Jazz Works award, by Chamber Music America recognizing excellence in jazz composition and ensemble performance.
Fundacion Para La Cultura Popular de PR
The album “Behique” was selected among best albums of Puerto Ricans in 2023 by la Fundacion Nacional para La Cultura Popular de PR.