 Chris Cody began his musical career as a classical pianist in Australia, after being a finalist in the Roger Woodward Piano Scholarship at the age of 14. He performed at venues including the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Town Hall. He gained a Bachelor's Degree in music from the University of Sydney, and the Licentiate of Trinity College, London, with high distinction, for classical piano performance.
His musical versatility found expression in a wide variety of work situations, including playing with some of Australia's leading jazz musicians such as James Morrison, Sandy Evans and Don Burrows. He formed his own jazz quartet and played in clubs, festivals and for Australian television and radio. Chris Cody played and composed for numerous musical productions, and he also wrote and directed the popular jazz cabaret 31 Celestial Flavors.
After gaining the Diploma in Jazz Studies at the Sydney Conservatorium and the Jazz Action Society Award for Best Jazz Composition in 1989, he left Australia to perform and tour the USA and throughout Europe with musicians including: Roy Hargrove, Antonio Hart, Sunny Murray, Herb Geller, Stephano di Battista, Frank Lacy, Graham Haynes, and François Théberge. Cody recorded with numerous artists including Stefan Hugye, Jeff Hoffman, and Beigel Daisy Toasts. He then formed his own highly successful group in Paris - the Chris Cody Coalition - and recorded his debut album of original compositions in 1996.
After his return to Australia in December 1996, he again performed at Australia's leading jazz venues and festivals including The Basement, Bennett's Lane, Manly and Wangarratta Jazz Festivals. He formed an Australian version of the Cody Coalition and recorded the CD Oasis on Naxos Jazz, receiving international acclaim. Cody has been sought after as a guest on radio programs, including Jim McLeod's Jazztrack, ABC FM, the 2BL Morning and Afternoon Shows, Radio France, and France Culture. Chris Cody has taught at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in the Bachelor of Music program, as well as giving masterclasses at universities and conservatoriums around the country. His music is also played on the inflight programs of several international airlines including Qantas. He continues to write music for theatre and cinema and recently appeared performing in the film Dr Jazz at the Sydney Film Festival. Chris was special guest and performer on Bernard Pivot's French arts program, Bouillon de Culture, on national TV in France, Australia and around the world. His music was performed live and used for the credits.
Since his return to France in 2000, Cody has performed at leading clubs and festivals around the country as well as in Germany, Switzerland, England and Cuba. He composed and performed a suite for the inauguration of the Australian Music Centre in Paris and composed and recorded the music for the Sydney Theatre Company's production of Moliere's Don Juan at the Sydney Opera House. He has also recently performed and recorded for ABC and SBS TV, and was the subject of Claude Carrière's program Jazz Club on France Musique. He recently recorded his latest CD Midnight Tide (Cristal/Harmonia Mundi), co-starring top American trombonist Glenn Ferris (released June 2003).
Cody's music reveals not only his love of jazz and classical music, but also the influence of the French and African musicians he has encountered in Paris, and its warmth and humour touch a wide and diverse public.
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