Javier Fernandez is a Puerto Rican pianist, arranger, producer, and musical director born in Bayamon in 1954. He began his professional career performing with La Orquesta Mundo, developing a style rooted in classic salsa. Fernandez later established the Javier Fernandez Big Band to perform traditional tropical and salsa compositions utilizing a large horn and rhythm section.
The group debuted in 2014 with the album The Eternal Classic, which was followed in 2017 by The Eternal Classic II. In 2020, Fernandez released their third major recording, Tributo A Las Reinas. Recorded entirely in Puerto Rico, this album features nine tracks arranged by Fernandez as a tribute to iconic female vocalists Celia Cruz, Myrta Silva, La Lupe, and Graciela Grillo. The ensemble has continued to record regularly, releasing tracks such as Jelengue y Revolu in 2021.
In addition to his large-scale tribute albums, the Javier Fernandez Big Band has recorded other tracks, including the single Como Baila Salome?. Through his meticulous brass and rhythm arrangements, Fernandez continues to showcase the heritage of classic big band salsa.
