Musical Style and Repertoire

“Andre is a brilliant pianist and his vocals just get better and better as he introduces more easy-listening ballads to his already amazing piano repertoire. Andre is without a doubt the top cabaret and covers pianist in the region.”
Glyn MacLean, Oikos Music
Andre Mendes da Costa has a versatile and improvisational background style which is highly listenable and breathes fresh life into an extensive selection of much-loved tunes, comprising modern hits, popular classics, and old-time memories. Both as a pianist and as a balladeer, he covers music from the 1930's to modern day.

With over 1000 songs on his ever-expanding playlist, Andre offers one of the most comprehensive live performance repertoires in the country, and it continues to grow as he keeps pace with the ongoing release of modern easy-listening songs or adds older favourites introduced to him by clients.

Andre’s love for music and for the piano is reflected in the feeling and expression found in his playing, and his subtle ability to read the crowd and play accordingly has made him a popular choice for those who want music to suit a wide variety of age groups. Part of his popularity lies in that Andre welcomes song requests, knowing that a certain special song or piece of music can bring back or create pleasant and lasting memories.

Instrumental Tracks

While it is not possible to capture the atmosphere, sense of ambiance, or vast range of styles that you will enjoy with a live performance, the following audio samples arranged and performed by Andre will give you a small taste.*
* We recommend listening to these tracks through stereo headphones or a quality sound system.

Stage Equipment

If your chosen venue doesn't have a well-tuned acoustic grand piano, Andre will provide his own professional stage equipment.

That's Debatable

Andre is available to work as a session musician. He often performs with That's Debatable, a Wairarapa band popular for dance music at weddings and corporate functions.

Songwriter

Andre is a relative newcomer to the singer-songwriter scene, yet his recorded originals have won praise for both lyrical content and melodic form. READ MORE...