Home » Jazz Musicians » Chris Cody

Chris Cody

Chris Cody is one of Australia’s foremost jazz pianists and has performed and recorded around the world. He began his musical career as a classical pianist in Australia, after being a finalist in the Roger Woodward Piano Scholarship at the age of 14. He performed at venues including the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Town Hall. He gained a Bachelor’s Degree in music from the University of Sydney, and the Licentiate of Trinity College, London, with high distinction, for classical piano performance.

His musical versatility found expression in a wide variety of work situations, including playing with some of Australia’s leading jazz musicians such as James Morrison and Don Burrows. He formed his own jazz quartet playing in local clubs, festivals and for Australian television and radio. He played and composed for numerous musical productions in Sydney, and he also wrote and directed the popular jazz cabaret 31 Celestial Flavors, that enjoyed repeat sell-out seasons in Sydney.

After gaining the Diploma in Jazz Studies at the Sydney Conservatorium and the Jazz Action Society Award for Best Jazz Composition in 1989, he left Australia to perform and tour in the USA and throughout Europe with international stars including Roy Hargrove, Antonio Hart, Sunny Murray, Herb Geller, Stephano di Battista, Frank Lacey, Graham Haynes, Rhoda Scott and Yves Robert. Cody recorded with numerous artists before forming his own highly successful group in Paris • the Chris Cody Coalition • and recording his debut album in 1996, released to international acclaim.

Returning to Australia in 1997, he performed at Australia’s leading jazz venues and festivals including The Basement, Bennett’s Lane, Manly and Wangarratta Jazz Festivals. He formed an Australian version of the Cody Coalition featuring Sydney’s finest jazz musicians and recorded the CD Oasis on Naxos Jazz, receiving glowing tributes from press around the world. Cody was a regular guest on radio programs, including Jim McLeod’s Jazztrack, ABC FM, the 2BL Morning and Afternoon Shows, and The Planet (ABC). Chris Cody taught at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in the Bachelor of Music program, as well as giving masterclasses at universities and conservatoriums around Australia. He also co-founded and directed the Sydney School of Piano. His music was selected for the in-flight jazz programs of several international airlines including Qantas. Chris also wrote music for theatre and cinema and appeared performing in the film Dr Jazz at the Sydney Film Festival. Chris was a featured guest and performer on numerous TV and radio programs around the world including France 2, Bernard Pivot, ABC TV and SBS TV. He also hosted his own jazz radio program in Sydney, Dr. Cody‘s Hip Transplants.

Read more

Tags

242
Album Review

Chris Cody Coalition: Conscript

Read "Conscript" reviewed by Barry O'Sullivan


Conscript, from expatriate Australian pianist/composer Chris Cody and his ensemble Coalition, is as politically correct as it could be. A classically trained pianist, Cody's musical versatility has found expression in a wide variety of work situations, from theatrical music productions to television and jazz festivals, playing with top liners such as James Morrison and Don Burrows in Australia and with Antonio Hart, Herb Geller, Frank Lacy and Roy Hargrove in the USA. Cody is ...

Read more articles
"Magical!" Piano Magazine, France "exhilarating ... a feast of melody..an inspiration never at fault.." JazzHot, France "highly evocative and spacious..." Rhythms, Australia "Full of music and future!" Le Monde, France "A marvellous climate, between subtle arrangements and vast spaces of improvisation..."Jazz Magazine, France "A superlative quartet. Chris Cody demonstrates an innate sense of rhythm and melodic lyricism." JazzAround, Belgium "Very luminous jazz!" Télérama, France "This is jazz that takes off for the heights." Figaroscope, France "These musicians guarantee a performance full of colour, humour and rhythmic movement."Sydney Morning Herald, Australia "something precious, delicate and often fragile, but very valuable

Read more

Primary Instrument

Piano

Location

Paris

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Credentials/Background

Piano teacher, British School of Paris 2003-07 Piano and Music professor, NSW Conservatorium of Music - University of Sydney (Direction of ensemble, arrangement, and improvisation classes,) 1996-2000 Piano and Music professor, Australian Institute of Music 1996-2000 (Director of Jazz Piano, Examination Panel, Direction of ensemble and improvisation classes Professor of music history, harmony and theory, Creation of music programs and syllabus). Founder, Co-Director and Teacher, Sydney School of Piano 1996-2000 Piano teacher, Kambala Church Of England Girl’s School, Sydney 1998-2000 Masterclass in advanced jazz at Australian National Jazz Awards 1999 Masterclasses and Workshops in BMUS programs, University of Western Sydney, 1997-98 Piano teacher, British School of Paris 1990-96 Piano teacher, direction of workshops and music camps, St

Read more

Photos

Music

Videos

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.