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Charmaine Ford

With a career still in its infancy, New Zealand-born piano virtuoso and composer Charmaine Ford has accomplished more than most musicians do in a lifetime.

Ford has blazed a trail of awards confirming she is indeed one of New Zealand’s most distinguished jazz musicians. She has released two self-penned albums, which showcase her extraordinary talent. Her sophomore release, ‘Busy Silence’, was awarded ‘Best Jazz Album 2007’ at the New Zealand Music Awards. Ford is the first female instrumentalist to receive this accolade. Her debut album ‘Blues for Guppy’ was also a finalist in the same category in 2004.

Charmaine performs with utter conviction and already has a distinctive sound, comprised of lyrical melodies synergized with idiosyncratic rhythmic diversity.

The Tauranga International Jazz Festival has commissioned Charmaine to write a new work, which will be premiered at her headline concert, Easter 2009. This is the first work to be commissioned in the 47-year history of the Festival.

Charmaine has played piano professionally since her mid teens and has been composing since the age of six. At age 19, she was awarded a Travel Grant Scholarship from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) to study in London. There, Charmaine spent three months learning from two of England's top jazz educators, Nikki Iles and Pete Churchill, while also taking lessons from one of the world’s leading classical pianists, (the late) Professor Yonty Soloman. During her time in London, Charmaine was also privileged to have lessons with various jazz greats including American pianists, Fred Hersch and Danilo Perez.

In 2005, Charmaine sought individual tuition from internationally acclaimed composer, John Psathas for the duration of the year. This period of concentrated training brought about a significant development in her writing.

Ford has performed extensively throughout New Zealand and has appeared on National Television several times. In 2006, Charmaine performed in concert with Tim Beveridge and the NZSO at Wellington’s Michael Fowler Centre. She has been invited to play at many of New Zealand's international jazz festivals, as well as being invited to tour Australia (Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney) with her trio, which included a performance at the ‘2004 Melbourne Women’s International Jazz Festival’.

Charmaine’s versatility extends into music education; an area she is passionate about. Ford has a Bachelor of Music and has taught at the New Zealand School Of Music (Massey University), in Wellington.

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408
Album Review

Charmaine Ford/Nick Tipping/Richard Wise: After the Last Dance

Read "After the Last Dance" reviewed by Matthew Warnock


After the Last Dance is a hard-grooving, impressively creative release by New Zealand's Ford/Tipping/Wise Trio. While some people wouldn't think of New Zealand as being a hotbed for modern jazz, these three musicians are aiming to change that and bring to light the strong NZ jazz scene with this release. Each tune is thoughtfully composed and carefully arranged, the group is tight and feeding off of each other's energy, and the level of creativity is high during improvised solos and ...

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290

Performance / Tour

Charmaine Ford Trio @ Baycourt Theatre in Tauranga On April 11

Charmaine Ford Trio @ Baycourt Theatre in Tauranga On April 11

Source: All About Jazz

Charmaine Ford, the “rising star of NZ jazz piano” (The Dominion Post), returns to her hometown of Tauranga to treat us to her “spellbinding virtuosity” (Bay of Plenty Times). Now based in Sydney building her international jazz career, Charmaine won the 2007 Jazz Tui Award for Best Jazz Album for her sophomore release Busy Silence and has just released her third album.

In this concert, she will also introduce us to the sensational Australian vocalist Kristin Berardi, winner of the ...

"Nothing could have prepared me for this young pianist's spell-binding virtuosity"
Bay Of Plenty Times, NZ

"Ford pens material which is immediately appealing"
The New Zealand Herald, NZ

"Charmaine Ford is one of New Zealand's most distinguished contemporary jazz pianists"
APRA

"One of New Zealand's true piano masters"
Wellington International Jazz Festival, NZ

"Charmaine Ford has established herself as one of New Zealand's most innovative and fearless voices in jazz"
Tauranga International Jazz Festival, NZ

"Charmaine Ford has sealed her reputation as one of New Zealand's leading jazz pianists"
Christchurch International Jazz Festival, NZ

"Charmaine Ford has a maturity of jazz expression that belies such youth

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Primary Instrument

Piano

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Credentials/Background

Bachelor Of Music (Jazz)
Dip.ABRSM (London)

Jazz Piano, Improvisation, Composition, and Musicianship Masterclasses

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

After the Last Dance

Self Produced
2009

buy

Busy Silence

Ford Motion Records
2006

buy

Videos

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