There’s something fitting about an album called Seasons arriving just before the new year. For Brazilian guitarist Andre Correa, who released his debut instrumental project this past November, the timing wasn’t just symbolic. Now in early January, the album resonates with that fresh-start energy a lot of people feel right now.
Correa, now based in Orlando, spent his Berklee College of Music years in Boston writing these seven tracks. Each one documents a different phase of leaving Brazil, adapting to life in the U.S., and finding his footing as an artist in unfamiliar territory. The album tells a specific story about what it feels like to uproot your life and rebuild it somewhere else.
The opening track, “First Step,” captures that initial leap. Fear and courage existing in the same rhythm, as Correa puts it. That tension runs through the whole project. “Slow It Down” came out of the frenetic pace of his first semester at Berklee, when everything moved too fast to process. “Surpresa no Caminho” translates to “Surprise Along the Way,” and it’s about those moments when plans fall apart and you have to improvise your way through.
What makes Seasons work is how Correa blends contemporary jazz structures with Brazilian rhythmic sensibility without turning it into a fusion exercise. He studied alongside other notable artists like John Patitucci, Danilo Pérez, and Joe Lovano, but he’s not trying to prove anything here. The improvisations feel purposeful rather than showy. The melodies have room to breathe.
“Randy” pays tribute to his professor Randy Roos, while “Mudança de Planos” (Change of Plans) documents an unexpected redirect. Correa planned to move to New York after graduation but ended up in Orlando instead. That kind of pivot, where faith and uncertainty collide, shows up in the music as moments of resolution that don’t feel forced.
The album features musicians who were part of this period in his life, which gives it an authentic documentary quality. Caleb Texier on keyboards, Joseph Seo on drums, Anderson Fontes on bass, plus contributions from Ian Coury, Jakob Kobal, and others. Recording with people who shared this chapter creates a cohesive sound that feels lived-in rather than constructed.
“Solitude,” one of the closing tracks, deals with mature solitude rather than loneliness. It’s about recognizing when a chapter ends and preparing for what’s next. That awareness connects back to why the album’s release date matters. As listeners settle into a new year, Seasons offers a soundtrack for anyone in the middle of their own transition, whether they’re moving countries or just trying to figure out what comes next.
Correa handles guitar, arrangements, and much of the production himself, with mixing and engineering contributions from Thiago Wolf and others. For an independent release, it sounds remarkably cohesive. You can hear the intention behind every choice, which makes sense for someone who views music as a language meant to communicate honestly rather than impress.
The technical execution matches the artistic vision. The engineering, mixing, and mastering on Seasons is genuinely impressive for an independent release. Each instrument sits exactly where it needs to be in the mix, the dynamics breathe naturally, and nothing feels overworked or clinical. It’s the kind of clean, professional sound you’d expect from a major label project, but it retains the warmth and intimacy that makes the album feel personal. That level of quality doesn’t happen by accident, especially when you’re wearing multiple hats as performer, composer, and producer.
Right now, he’s working as a solo artist, musical director, and educator in Orlando, developing his FCA methodology for teaching guitar. But Seasons captures a specific window in time when everything felt uncertain and music became the way to make sense of it all. That’s the thing about transitions. They’re uncomfortable while you’re in them, but looking back, they’re usually when the most interesting work gets made.
For more information, visit Correa’s website. Seasons is available on Spotify, and you can follow his work on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, and LinkedIn.
