Chris Cody, pianist, composer and producer, has performed and recorded extensively all over the world for 40 years, although he is mostly based in France. He has headlined at many international festivals and a vast array of concert venues throughout the USA, Europe, Africa and Australasia. He has released 14 recordings on international labels and collaborated on numerous other international albums. Chris has written for theatre, dance, cinema, radio and television. His latest work, Mountain to Sea, was released in November 2024.
Chris answers five questions posed by Barry O’Sullivan.
What were your earliest musical experiences, and how did they motivate you to pursue a professional musical career?
We enjoyed music and singing at home and my mother played piano and guitar. I learnt piano from age eight and went on to play at school events and concerts, doing piano exams every year. I also sang in the choir and played double bass in the school orchestra and jazz band. I was surrounded by music and listened to and discovered as much classical and jazz as I could. I was always singing on car trips, making stuff up. When I had to play for exams or in concerts, I was nervous but liked the thrill and glow of a performance. Music gave me a special feeling as it was very personal, Chris Cody. Photo supplied but also infinite, like a never-ending exploration, a dialogue with something intangible that challenged and tested me. I started tutoring in both my instruments while at school and began to think of studying and playing at a higher level and making my life in music. I auditioned for the BMus at Sydney University as a classical pianist and was accepted and I did jazz, classical and theatre gigs on the side. I later did the jazz course at the Conservatorium.
What motivated you to further your career away from Australia?
Having completed my tertiary studies and already earning a living through playing and teaching, I was keen to go further, travel, seek out more experiences and explore myself and the world. I read widely and enjoyed European books, films, culture and music. I especially liked France and French culture, and I majored in French at university. When I met a visiting jazz musician from Paris who said I could stay while finding my feet I set out on a one-way ticket via New York and London. It was hard at first, but I went to all the jam sessions, hustled for gigs, met musicians, started getting gigs and going on tours and I ended up living in Paris for 21 years. I met my wife, had two children in France and made a happy life there.
Europe offers more possibilities for concerts, touring, recording, reviews, airplay and working with international musicians. There are over 450 festivals in France alone, and numerous clubs, associations and magazines supporting jazz. Jazz and all art forms are more present in society, in the media, in conversations and even in the supermarkets, where I was impressed to hear Miles Davis being played. The arts are an integral part of the broader culture, whereas here they’re more underground or for a small elite.
What elements of the international music scene would you suggest we could benefit from introducing to the local scene?
The Music Trust here has published a number of reports and articles on this, and there have been numerous recommendations. The whole culture has to change to make a difference, which won’t happen overnight. Art and culture have never been as big a part of Australian life as they are in European and many other countries. Contemporary Australia is still working out who and what it is. But briefly, music should be taught in every school, with funding for specialist teachers and band programs, as is the case in Europe and the USA. There should be more government financial support for musicians, clubs and festivals and the broader music industry at local, regional, and national levels, through direct and indirect funding, scholarships, grants and tax breaks. Radio and television could provide more art music content and break the stranglehold of pop and rock. Councils should ease restrictions placed on bars, restaurants, streets and parks. France has a government-backed unemployment insurance system that allows musicians, actors and arts workers to earn benefits for the days they don’t work and also pays them holiday leave. It makes a huge difference to the numbers.
What is your latest musical project and how did you conceive it?
My latest project is Mountain to Sea, an album of pieces and improvisations for a quartet. I wanted to write some beautiful compositions, using diverse motifs and African and French influences to create a unique vibe. I wrote with the musicians in mind, knowing they were good improvisers, who could be experimental and colouristic and explore sounds and textures. I wanted to create an imaginary journey or contemplative album, an antidote to the turbulence and violence in the world right now.
If you had not pursued a professional musical life what would you have liked to have done?
It’s hard to say now, it’s been a while and I have thoroughly enjoyed being a musician, even during the tough times! My second choice for university was law, as having enjoyed debating and arguing in general, I thought I might be a barrister. But I was accepted into music and just kept on going. I’m very glad! I would be a different person if I had done law. I’d be wealthier but probably have had a less interesting life. I’ve played music all over the world, met extraordinary people and had amazing experiences. Music has enabled me to live exactly the life I wanted to live. I feel very fortunate to do something valuable and enriching for me and for others as well. It’s a wonderful abstract way to communicate, tell stories and share emotions and responses. I’ve also dabbled in writing, mostly poetry and short stories, and done some acting, so I think I was meant for the arts. The 18-year-old me would probably add adventurer and explorer to round out the list.
Listen on-demand Barry O’Sullivan’s interview of Chris Cody in A jazz Hour.
https://tinyurl.com/codyon2MBS
www.chriscody.com