Chris Cody “The Outsider” – Wednesday, 11th of October 2023:
The Foundry616 welcomes back renowned jazz pianist Chris Cody who has thrilled audiences at venues and festivals around the world from New York to Zanzibar, working with jazz greats Roy Hargrove, Herb Geller, Rhoda Scott, Lisa Simone, Brice Wassy, and Miles Davis alumni Rick Margitza along the way.
The Outsider is Cody’s exciting new music for his all-star band, ranging from the blues to exuberant gospel and jazz, film noir ballads to wild swing, infused with infectious African and Middle Eastern grooves and motifs. The music is a joyous life-affirming response to adversity, music of beauty and hope.
The band features some of Australia’s finest world music and jazz musicians with rising tenor sax sensation Hinano Fujisaki, John Robinson an oud maestro, and a burning rhythm section with The Neck’s bassist Lloyd Swanton, and thrilling percussionist Adem Yilmaz.
Media response to The Outsider:
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” 5 stars , Eric Myers The Australian
“Free flowing, inspired, high revving, hugely evocative, elegantly layered, wonderfully lithe and sinewy, elegiac musing…John Shand rampant lyricism, opulent ensemble harmonies, mix of longing and nostalgia, compositional sophistication…his finest album.” John Shand, Sydney Morning Herald
“ 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
