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Joe Chindamo

Pianist and Composer, Joe Chindamo was born in Melbourne in 1961, the eldest son of Italian immigrants, who came to Australia in search of a better life. At the age of 6, he was encouraged by his parents to take up a musical instrument: the accordion. He immediately fell in love with music and the idea of creating it. At the tender age of 13 he won the televised talent quest Kevin Dennis' New Faces and, a year later, Bernard King's Pot ‘O' Gold (also a nationally televised talent quest). Along with his brother, Domenic, on drums, Joe spent most Saturday nights playing accordion at local Italian functions. On the day of his 14th birthday, he made his first record. The record company closed its doors only months before it was due to be released, so it never became available to the public.

Tiring of the histrionics that went with performing on the accordion ("all that smiling made me nauseous") and inspired by the great pianist Oscar Peterson, Joe switched, at the age of 15, to the piano. Soon he was working with the well-known band leader Denis Farrington and other musicians twice his age during the 70's. Meanwhile, at home he taught himself jazz piano. He studied the recordings of the great jazz pianists, wrote out their solos, then duplicated them on his piano.

At 18, Joe attended Melbourne State College, where he received his first formal piano lesson and studied classical music for the first time. He soon became the preferred pianist of just about every film composer in town, including Bruce Smeaton, Brian May, Bruce Rowlands, Nigel Westlake and Paul Grabowsky, and later, of visiting international composers, Jerry Goldsmith and Angelo Badalamenti.

Joe's playing has adorned more than 60 films, including Pharlap, Man from Snowy River 2, The Sound of One Hand Clapping, Evil Angels and Babe. He has accompanied Shirley Bassey, recorded with Vince Jones, Olivia Newton John, Christine Sullivan and Yvonne Kenny, orchestrated and conducted a string orchestra for Peter Andre, and played with Dame Kiri te Kanawa, Caroline O'Conner and Don Burrows.

He has toured extensively through Europe, the US, Japan and Argentina and recorded & played with international jazz artists such as the late Ray Brown, Billy Cobham, Lee Konitz, Mike and Randy Brecker, Frank Morgan, Mark Turner, Ernie Watts, Ravi Coltrane, Larry Coryell & James Morrison.

When Billy Cobham first heard Chindamo play in 1990, he immediately asked him to join his group and tour internationally. This association has led to seventeen major tours throughout America, Europe, Japan and Argentina as well as two international recordings (The Traveller and By Design).

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Album Review

Albare: Plays Jobim Vol. 2

Read "Plays Jobim Vol. 2" reviewed by Chris M. Slawecki


"I was 14 when I first heard the music of Tom Jobim," recalls Albare, nom de guerre of guitarist Albert Dadon. “I already had six years of guitar learning under my belt. When I first heard those bossa chords, my ears were opened in a whole new way. A musical seed was planted in my brain that would never leave me." Plays Jobim Vol. 2 continues the story from Volume 1, released in May 2020, and polishes many ...

7
Album Review

Albare: Plays Jobim Vol. 2

Read "Plays Jobim Vol. 2" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Albare Plays Jobim, Vol. 2 by Moroccan-born, Israeli-raised guitarist Albare (the only name given) isn't quite what it seems. While the names of the musicians and guest artists are listed on the jacket, what is not addressed is the presence of a string orchestra, the only suggestion of which is pianist Joe Chindamo's designation as “orchestra conductor." That's it. Perhaps, however, that is for the best, as the unnamed orchestra is recorded at arm's length and serves essentially as a ...

15
Album Review

Albare: Albare Plays Jobim

Read "Albare Plays Jobim" reviewed by Edward Blanco


Guitarist and composer Albare, who discovered the sounds of Antonio Carlos Jobim in 1972, now pays tribute to the “father of the bossa nova" on an incredibly gorgeous session of light music with strings, the outstanding Albare Plays Jobim. Paying homage to the greatest exponent of Brazilian music is not easy and using the guitar, which Tom Jobim was often drawn to, makes comparisons an issue. Albare may be the better player--even though these days he only plays by ear, ...

334
Live Review

Joe Chindamo Trio at Bennetts Lane, Melbourne

Read "Joe Chindamo Trio at Bennetts Lane, Melbourne" reviewed by Ian Patterson


Joe Chindamo Trio Bennetts Lane Jazz Club Melbourne, Australia December 18, 2008

Whilst other jazz venues have come and gone, Bennetts Lane jazz club has, since opening its doors in 1992, provided a steady and intimate breeding ground for Melbourne's jazz musicians--both established, like veteran drummer Allan Browne who celebrated thirty years of Monday night sessions at the start of the week, and up-and-coming young talent alike. In addition, it has welcomed an impressive ...

256
Multiple Reviews

Joe Chindamo: Smokingun / Duende: The Romantic Project

Read "Joe Chindamo: Smokingun / Duende: The Romantic Project" reviewed by AAJ Staff


Graeme Lyall/Joe Chindamo Smokingun New Market Music 2007 Joe Chindamo Duende: The Romantic Project Jazzhead 2007

Though in the States pianist Joe Chindamo is basically an unknown, Down Under he is showered with accolades and awards. With a career dating back to the ‘70s, Chindamo has amassed impressive associations: Billy Cobham, ...

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