Listen to Procession
Listen to La Goutte D’Or
Listen to The Outsider
Featuring:
Chris Cody – piano and composition
Simon Ferenci – trumpet
Michael Avgenicos – sax
Alex Silver – trombone
John Robinson – oud
Lloyd Swanton – double bass
Adem Yilmaz – percussion
James Waples – drums
Pianist and composer Chris Cody launches his long awaited “The Outsider” album with a stunning all star, eight-piece ensemble at the Camelot Lounge.
“The Outsider” was inspired by the works of French writer and philosopher Albert Camus, Chris’ many years living in Paris, as well as the Covid experience – all raising questions of identity and purpose when faced with isolation. Like Camus, Chris wanted the response to be one of courage, action and joy, and for the music to reflect this. It ranges from blues to free jazz and gospel, infused with African and Middle Eastern motifs and grooves.
“Free flowing, inspired, high revving, hugely evocative, elegantly layered, wonderfully lithe and sinewy, elegiac musing, rampant lyricism, opulent ensemble harmonies, mix of longing and nostalgia, compositional sophistication…his finest album.” SMH The Outsider 2022
“Cody has demonstrated an uncanny knack for drawing back the veil on what we wilfully overlook; colonisation, alienation, belonging and dislocation. And he does so while offering us hope and sublimely beautiful music.” – John Fenton, New Zealand
“A piano style that is enthusiastic, luminous, that breathes, with an incisive attack, a left hand in support with very distinctive chords, and a singing right hand…beautiful melodies and arrangements… a very rich ensemble sound”. – Serge Baudot, Evasion, France
“Infectious… excellent improvisations that stand out…a stellar line-up…One of the album’s highlights is the title track, a thoughtful and ruminative ballad which lingers in one’s imagination”. Eric Myers – The Australian
“ The Outsider is rich in numerous music traditions, from African to Middle Eastern along with jazz and blues … a vibrant, musically diverse experience” – City Hub
Renowned jazz pianist Chris Cody has thrilled audiences at venues and festivals around the world from New York to Zanzibar, and has worked with jazz greats along the way – Roy Hargrove, Herb Geller, Rhoda Scott, Lisa Simone, Brice Wassy, and Miles Davis alumni Rick Margitza. The album features some of Australia’s finest world music and jazz musicians with three horns, an oud maestro and a burning rhythm section with The Neck’s bassist Lloyd Swanton, virtuosic percussionist Adem Yilmaz and legendary drummer James “Pug” Waples.