Chris Cody launches The Outsider

By CHRIS RUHLE

Chris Cody is a Sydney based pianist and composer with a long international career and a string of albums to his credit. Over the past thirty years he has headlined at major international festivals in Paris, London, Rome, Brussels, Stockholm, Munich, Marciac, Geneva, Ascona, Derry, Dar Es Salaam and Algiers and performed at a vast array of concert venues throughout the USA, Europe, Africa and Australasia.    

His latest album ‘The Outsider’ was  inspired by the works of French writer and philosopher Albert Camus, Chris’s many years living in Paris, and the Covid experience at home – all raising questions of identity and purpose when faced with sickness or isolation. Like Camus, Chris wanted the response to be one of courage, action and joy, and for the music to reflect this. As such It ranges from blues to free jazz and gospel, infused with African and Middle Eastern motifs and grooves.  

Chris originally left for Paris in his early 20s as he recalls “with a one way ticket and a suitcase, full of dreams and ambitions.” He stayed there for many years but worked his way around Europe together with numerous American, French, African, and Arab musicians.  

With his return to Sydney, the Covid pandemic and lockdowns stirred up many feelings and memories. Unable to get out and play clubs and concerts, he was reading and walking a lot, and started thinking of Camus and his works The Outsider and The Plague, realising the absurdity and frustrations of the situation he faced were similar to those described in these books. 

The Outsider is rich in numerous music traditions, from African to Middle Eastern along with jazz and blues. Chris notes:

“I had worked in these different styles for many years in Paris and around Europe. I wanted my different musical styles and influences to weave together to represent the themes I’d chosen. I wanted happy sun-filled music that ranges from blues to free jazz and gospel, infused with African and Middle Eastern motifs and grooves.”

“I needed three horns for the jazz and bright punchy Africa brass sound, an oud for the colour and tone of Algeria where Camus was from and his book was set, and middle Eastern percussion for the Algerian rhythms that contain so much joy. And I also wanted  a jazz rhythm section for the gospel, free and bop elements in some pieces.”

The Outsider features some of Australia’s finest musicians and improvisers with Chris explaining:

“In the horns I needed good readers and improvisers, but also the ability to play tightly together for the closely written three-part harmony sections. Similarly for the oud, I wanted to respectfully incorporate the style and tradition of oud music, while also writing music that broke away from that tradition, and opens new horizons. In the rhythm section, I used long-time friend and collaborator bassist Lloyd Swanton from The Necks, virtuosic percussionist Adem Yilmaz and legendary jazz drummer James Waples for the jazz and North African grooves.  And at the piano my role was to be the glue that held it all together.” Like many recordings made during the Covid period, Chris faced a number of problems with two of his musicians falling ill with the virus. 

“We had to organise further sessions and even allow for some overdubs when we all couldn’t be present. But it is still a very live session, recorded as if we were playing a concert. Most pieces were first or second takes. We used a combination of old technologies such as a big old plate reverb and newer digital filters.”

The result is a vibrant, musically diverse experience that works not only as a recording but in a live performance as well. You can experience this when Chris Cody launches his brand new album, The Outsider, at the Camelot Lounge in Marrickville along with an all star ensemble on Thursday 8 December. 

Chris Cody, The Outside album launch

December 8, 8pm

Camelot Lounge, Cnr 103 Railway Pde &19 Marrickville Rd, Marrickville

Tickets and info: www.stickytickets.com.au