JOE CHINDAMO is a pianist, composer, arranger who cannot be categorised easily. With twenty three CDs in his wake,
many of them topping charts in Japan, countless world tours and a plethora of awards, he can comfortably take his place
amongst the best jazz pianists in the world. Joe's abilities and musical activities transcend jazz, as is demonstrated by his work
with violin virtuoso Zoe Black, with whom he has formed a innovative duo and recorded two CDs entitled REIMAGININGS.
and DIDO'S LAMENT.
A man with an international reputation, Joe has performed concerts all over the world. Of particular note, the Umbria Jazz
Festival, The Tokyo Dome and The Lincoln Centre in New York. He also toured with famed US drummer Billy Cobham
for over years.
His formidable pianism has earned him admiration from amongst the classical elite. In 2008 Joe was invited to perform three
concerts in italy by the celebrated classical pianist Michele Campanella. (Joe was invited back to perform in Naples by
Campanella in 2011). The celebrated piano maker Paolo Fazioli heard Joe at the Umbria Jazz Festival and invited him to play at
his auditorium in Venice as a result of an enthusiastic recommendation by the formidable Nikolai Demidenko. In Australia,
Joe is routinely invited to perform at all the principal festivals and a host of other venues ranging from house concerts to jazz
clubs to the Sydney Opera House ( where, along with James Morrison, was a featured soloist with the Sydney Symphony
Orchestra )
Amongst a plethora of awards, Joe has twice won the MO award for Jazz Instrumental performer of the year, two BELL
AWARDS for best album and the APRA award for best jazz composition of the year in 2009 for 'Something Will Come to
Light."
More recently, Joe's unique gifts as a composer of chamber music have come to the fore. Joe has been commissioned to
compose and arrange for chamber ensembles such as ACACIA Quartet, the Freshwater and Seraphim Trios, Sarah
Curro, the Flinders Quartet, David Berlin and Wilma Smith. Two of his works for string orchestra were recently
performed by Australian Chamber Orchestra 2.
His Toccata for violin was chosen as the requisite Australian work by Anne Marie Johnston, who performed it at the ABC
Young performers' awards in 2013. An Australia Council Fellowship in 2003 facilitated his composing of a concerto for
Accordion and Orchestra. His String quartet number 1 was premiered in june 2014. This was also funded by the Australia
Council by way of a commission by Acacia quartet.
He has recorded 23 CDs under his own name and collaborated on other recordings with distinguished artists such as James
Morrison, Ray Brown (of Oscar Peterson fame) and the Brecker Brothers. He has worked with artists such diverse artists
as Olivia Newton John ( on her album Warm and Tender) and Sofie von Otter in a special performance at the Opera House
with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in 2011
In 2006, recorded a live solo DVD in Tokyo entitled Joe Chindamo in Japan. This was released in early 2007. In 2007, Joe
was personally invited by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to perform at the Lodge for in Canberra for the signing in of his
ministers. Later that evening Joe was invited to join the immediate family for their first dinner at their new abode.
He has worked on more than 60 film soundtracks and his piano playing is featured on such iconic Australian films as
PHARLAP, MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER II and THE SOUND OF ONE HAND CLAPPING.
Numerous of his recordings reached Number 1 on the Modern Jazz Charts in Japan.
AWARDS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Won the 2002 MO award for Australian Jazz Instrumental Performer of the Year and nominated for the same award in 2003.
Won the 2004 MO award for Australian Jazz Instrumental Performer of the Year.
Awarded chairman’s Bell award for outstanding achievement for 2004.
Won the Bell award for best classic jazz album of 2006. “Live at Umbria Jazz 05”.
ABC television documentary made about his life and career, Joe Chindamo - Profile of a Jazz Pianist in 2000.
In 2003 awarded 2 year FELLOWSHIP by Australia Council to compose, perform and study.
Won the ABC people’s choice award for best jazz album of 1997, Anyone who had a heart (Burt Bacharach song book) and
nominated for an ARIA award.
In 2009 Joe’s tune Something Will Come To Light from his recording “The Romantic Project” won the APRA award for jazz
composition of the year.
RECORDED AND PRODUCED 20 CDS
The First Take (aka A brief history of standards time - with US bassist Ray Brown)
Reflected Journey (with Michael and Randy Brecker)
Anyone Who Had A Heart
Good Little Ploy (Joe Chindamo with String Orchestra)
Smokin’ gun (with Graeme Lyall)
Love, Blues and Other Fiction (with Graeme Lyall)
Paradiso
America!
Joy of Standards
Joy of Standards Vol.2
Tender Is The Night (with Nina Ferro)
Joe Chindamo Live at Umbria Jazz 05
2X2 James Morrison and Joe Chindamo
Duende - The Romantic Project
Another Place, Some Other Time (music from the films of the Coen Brothers)
The Puccini Arias ( as yet untitled and due for release in 2010)
Answer Me My Love (due for release late 2009)
Luminous (A tribute to Mozart - HUSH - with Zoe Black) 2011
Reimaginings ( with Zoe Black) 2012
Dido's Lament ( with Zoe Black) 2013
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Recorded and performed with Ray Brown, Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, Ernie Watts, Brian Bromberg, Lee Konitz, Chuck
Findley, Frank Morgan, James Morrson, Graeme Lyall and US drummer Billy Cobham, with whom Joe made two CDs as
sideman and toured the world 20 times throughout a ten year association.
Also performed with and Shirley Bassey, Ricky Lee Jones, Olivia Newton John, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Anne Sophie
Von Otter.
Worked as studio pianist on more than 60 film sountracks, including Babe, The Man From Snowy River II, A Cry in the Dark,
Warlock, Missing in Action II. Hotel Sorrento and The Sound of One Hand Clapping.
In 2000, began recording for the Sawano record company in Japan. The first release with Sawano, Joy of Standards, reached
Number 1 in Japan’s HMV Modern Jazz Charts.
Other releases also became best sellers in Japan. America !, Joy of Standards Vol.2, Paradiso and Anyone Who Had a Heart.
Joe has appeared at Umbria Jazz Winter in Orvieto Italy, Umbria Jazz in Perugia, Italy. He has also performed as
soloist and/or with his trio in New York, India, France, Sweden, Denmark, Korea, Japan andTaiwan. He also
performed in Israel where he gave a concert in Tel Aviv and a nationally televised solo recital at the Jerusalem Museum.
In 2005, composed a modern orchestral work, Concerto for Accordion and Orchestra.
In 2006, recorded a live solo DVD in Tokyo entitled Joe Chindamo in Japan. This was released in early 2007.
Also in 2006, supported jazz singer Dianne Reeves on her Australian tour in a solo set.
In 2007, Joe was personally invited by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to perform at the Lodge for in Canberra for the signing
in of his ministers. Later that evening Joe was invited to join the immediate family for their first dinner at their new abode.
WHAT MUSICIANS AND CRITICS SAY
“There are some pianists who dazzle with their touch and technique. There are others who knock you out with their restless
creativity or erudition. Then there are those who seduce you by evoking emotions of vulnerability, joy and rage, playing as if
they are telling you a story. What makes Joe Chindamo different is that he is one of the few who can integrate all these
qualities.” Leon Gettler, The Age
"Joe Chindamo is closer to the model of the complete musician of Bach’s time – composer, performer, improviser – than
classical music’s modern custodians. Chindamo's range of reference is encyclopaedic and his art tender; his virtuosity never
hectors, but disarms. It is music of seduction." Anna Goldsworthy, Pianist, Author
“Throughout, his approach is one of unpretentious elegance under-scored by superlative technique.” Jack Bowers Cadence
Magazine, New York
“He has that Bill Evans knack for bringing unlikely material into his own orbit.”
Michael Cuscana, Blue Note reissue producer USA
“Joe Chindamo is literally in a ‘etat de grace’ (state of grace) in this recording [live at Umbria Jazz 05] ........he reaches a
summit in that he belongs to the realm of jazz piano greats for whom virtuosity is placed at the service of extraordinary
musicality and art....... Finally, the choice of songs and their presentation make this recording one of the great releases of 2005.
BRAVISSIMO” Yves Sportis Le Jazz Hot Magazine, France.
“Joe Chindamo is an extremely gifted world class musician – an outstanding and sensitive pianist and a brilliant composer and
arranger. His ability to reinvent all styles of music so that we hear it completely anew is true genius.” Tania De Jong AM
Director of Creative Universe and Opera Singer.
“Meldau is a great jazz pianist, we all know, but the latest discovery at the Umbria Festival is [a pianist] called Chindamo....He
[Chindamo] tranforms and mixes his Tatumesque technique with other ways of thinking about the piano... perfecting a
pianism which is rich and delicate, fluid and animated, deconstructed and recomposed with sharp intellegence; all the while,
making it relevant to today by aligning itself with modernity”Aldo Gianolio L’unita, Italy
“The tenderness and delicacy of his ballad playing, reinforces my opinion that he has no peer as a balladeer in this country
[Australia]” Kevin Jones 2MBS magazine, Aust.
“A virtuoso in the tradition of Peterson (and his idol, Art Tatum), Chindamo demonstrates here that technique isn’t only about
speed and accuracy, it’s also to do with touch and expression....It’s a triumphant display that should appeal to any fan of classic
piano jazz.” Adrian Jackson, Rhythms Magazine and The Bulletin, Aust.
“Never, in all my years in Australia, have I heard anyone come even remotely close [to Joe Chindamo].” Tommy Tycho,
conductor, pianist, composer, arranger
“He has more facility on the piano than you could ever wish for, his energy is boundless, he is forever inventive and never
settles for the obvious (unless it’s the best). Never ask Joe for an idea unless you are prepared for an avalanche of creativity,
every time... The reason Joe Chindamo arrests you when you hear him is his sheer love of what he does, a love that sparkles
from every note.” James Morrison
many of them topping charts in Japan, countless world tours and a plethora of awards, he can comfortably take his place
amongst the best jazz pianists in the world. Joe's abilities and musical activities transcend jazz, as is demonstrated by his work
with violin virtuoso Zoe Black, with whom he has formed a innovative duo and recorded two CDs entitled REIMAGININGS.
and DIDO'S LAMENT.
A man with an international reputation, Joe has performed concerts all over the world. Of particular note, the Umbria Jazz
Festival, The Tokyo Dome and The Lincoln Centre in New York. He also toured with famed US drummer Billy Cobham
for over years.
His formidable pianism has earned him admiration from amongst the classical elite. In 2008 Joe was invited to perform three
concerts in italy by the celebrated classical pianist Michele Campanella. (Joe was invited back to perform in Naples by
Campanella in 2011). The celebrated piano maker Paolo Fazioli heard Joe at the Umbria Jazz Festival and invited him to play at
his auditorium in Venice as a result of an enthusiastic recommendation by the formidable Nikolai Demidenko. In Australia,
Joe is routinely invited to perform at all the principal festivals and a host of other venues ranging from house concerts to jazz
clubs to the Sydney Opera House ( where, along with James Morrison, was a featured soloist with the Sydney Symphony
Orchestra )
Amongst a plethora of awards, Joe has twice won the MO award for Jazz Instrumental performer of the year, two BELL
AWARDS for best album and the APRA award for best jazz composition of the year in 2009 for 'Something Will Come to
Light."
More recently, Joe's unique gifts as a composer of chamber music have come to the fore. Joe has been commissioned to
compose and arrange for chamber ensembles such as ACACIA Quartet, the Freshwater and Seraphim Trios, Sarah
Curro, the Flinders Quartet, David Berlin and Wilma Smith. Two of his works for string orchestra were recently
performed by Australian Chamber Orchestra 2.
His Toccata for violin was chosen as the requisite Australian work by Anne Marie Johnston, who performed it at the ABC
Young performers' awards in 2013. An Australia Council Fellowship in 2003 facilitated his composing of a concerto for
Accordion and Orchestra. His String quartet number 1 was premiered in june 2014. This was also funded by the Australia
Council by way of a commission by Acacia quartet.
He has recorded 23 CDs under his own name and collaborated on other recordings with distinguished artists such as James
Morrison, Ray Brown (of Oscar Peterson fame) and the Brecker Brothers. He has worked with artists such diverse artists
as Olivia Newton John ( on her album Warm and Tender) and Sofie von Otter in a special performance at the Opera House
with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in 2011
In 2006, recorded a live solo DVD in Tokyo entitled Joe Chindamo in Japan. This was released in early 2007. In 2007, Joe
was personally invited by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to perform at the Lodge for in Canberra for the signing in of his
ministers. Later that evening Joe was invited to join the immediate family for their first dinner at their new abode.
He has worked on more than 60 film soundtracks and his piano playing is featured on such iconic Australian films as
PHARLAP, MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER II and THE SOUND OF ONE HAND CLAPPING.
Numerous of his recordings reached Number 1 on the Modern Jazz Charts in Japan.
AWARDS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Won the 2002 MO award for Australian Jazz Instrumental Performer of the Year and nominated for the same award in 2003.
Won the 2004 MO award for Australian Jazz Instrumental Performer of the Year.
Awarded chairman’s Bell award for outstanding achievement for 2004.
Won the Bell award for best classic jazz album of 2006. “Live at Umbria Jazz 05”.
ABC television documentary made about his life and career, Joe Chindamo - Profile of a Jazz Pianist in 2000.
In 2003 awarded 2 year FELLOWSHIP by Australia Council to compose, perform and study.
Won the ABC people’s choice award for best jazz album of 1997, Anyone who had a heart (Burt Bacharach song book) and
nominated for an ARIA award.
In 2009 Joe’s tune Something Will Come To Light from his recording “The Romantic Project” won the APRA award for jazz
composition of the year.
RECORDED AND PRODUCED 20 CDS
The First Take (aka A brief history of standards time - with US bassist Ray Brown)
Reflected Journey (with Michael and Randy Brecker)
Anyone Who Had A Heart
Good Little Ploy (Joe Chindamo with String Orchestra)
Smokin’ gun (with Graeme Lyall)
Love, Blues and Other Fiction (with Graeme Lyall)
Paradiso
America!
Joy of Standards
Joy of Standards Vol.2
Tender Is The Night (with Nina Ferro)
Joe Chindamo Live at Umbria Jazz 05
2X2 James Morrison and Joe Chindamo
Duende - The Romantic Project
Another Place, Some Other Time (music from the films of the Coen Brothers)
The Puccini Arias ( as yet untitled and due for release in 2010)
Answer Me My Love (due for release late 2009)
Luminous (A tribute to Mozart - HUSH - with Zoe Black) 2011
Reimaginings ( with Zoe Black) 2012
Dido's Lament ( with Zoe Black) 2013
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Recorded and performed with Ray Brown, Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, Ernie Watts, Brian Bromberg, Lee Konitz, Chuck
Findley, Frank Morgan, James Morrson, Graeme Lyall and US drummer Billy Cobham, with whom Joe made two CDs as
sideman and toured the world 20 times throughout a ten year association.
Also performed with and Shirley Bassey, Ricky Lee Jones, Olivia Newton John, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Anne Sophie
Von Otter.
Worked as studio pianist on more than 60 film sountracks, including Babe, The Man From Snowy River II, A Cry in the Dark,
Warlock, Missing in Action II. Hotel Sorrento and The Sound of One Hand Clapping.
In 2000, began recording for the Sawano record company in Japan. The first release with Sawano, Joy of Standards, reached
Number 1 in Japan’s HMV Modern Jazz Charts.
Other releases also became best sellers in Japan. America !, Joy of Standards Vol.2, Paradiso and Anyone Who Had a Heart.
Joe has appeared at Umbria Jazz Winter in Orvieto Italy, Umbria Jazz in Perugia, Italy. He has also performed as
soloist and/or with his trio in New York, India, France, Sweden, Denmark, Korea, Japan andTaiwan. He also
performed in Israel where he gave a concert in Tel Aviv and a nationally televised solo recital at the Jerusalem Museum.
In 2005, composed a modern orchestral work, Concerto for Accordion and Orchestra.
In 2006, recorded a live solo DVD in Tokyo entitled Joe Chindamo in Japan. This was released in early 2007.
Also in 2006, supported jazz singer Dianne Reeves on her Australian tour in a solo set.
In 2007, Joe was personally invited by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to perform at the Lodge for in Canberra for the signing
in of his ministers. Later that evening Joe was invited to join the immediate family for their first dinner at their new abode.
WHAT MUSICIANS AND CRITICS SAY
“There are some pianists who dazzle with their touch and technique. There are others who knock you out with their restless
creativity or erudition. Then there are those who seduce you by evoking emotions of vulnerability, joy and rage, playing as if
they are telling you a story. What makes Joe Chindamo different is that he is one of the few who can integrate all these
qualities.” Leon Gettler, The Age
"Joe Chindamo is closer to the model of the complete musician of Bach’s time – composer, performer, improviser – than
classical music’s modern custodians. Chindamo's range of reference is encyclopaedic and his art tender; his virtuosity never
hectors, but disarms. It is music of seduction." Anna Goldsworthy, Pianist, Author
“Throughout, his approach is one of unpretentious elegance under-scored by superlative technique.” Jack Bowers Cadence
Magazine, New York
“He has that Bill Evans knack for bringing unlikely material into his own orbit.”
Michael Cuscana, Blue Note reissue producer USA
“Joe Chindamo is literally in a ‘etat de grace’ (state of grace) in this recording [live at Umbria Jazz 05] ........he reaches a
summit in that he belongs to the realm of jazz piano greats for whom virtuosity is placed at the service of extraordinary
musicality and art....... Finally, the choice of songs and their presentation make this recording one of the great releases of 2005.
BRAVISSIMO” Yves Sportis Le Jazz Hot Magazine, France.
“Joe Chindamo is an extremely gifted world class musician – an outstanding and sensitive pianist and a brilliant composer and
arranger. His ability to reinvent all styles of music so that we hear it completely anew is true genius.” Tania De Jong AM
Director of Creative Universe and Opera Singer.
“Meldau is a great jazz pianist, we all know, but the latest discovery at the Umbria Festival is [a pianist] called Chindamo....He
[Chindamo] tranforms and mixes his Tatumesque technique with other ways of thinking about the piano... perfecting a
pianism which is rich and delicate, fluid and animated, deconstructed and recomposed with sharp intellegence; all the while,
making it relevant to today by aligning itself with modernity”Aldo Gianolio L’unita, Italy
“The tenderness and delicacy of his ballad playing, reinforces my opinion that he has no peer as a balladeer in this country
[Australia]” Kevin Jones 2MBS magazine, Aust.
“A virtuoso in the tradition of Peterson (and his idol, Art Tatum), Chindamo demonstrates here that technique isn’t only about
speed and accuracy, it’s also to do with touch and expression....It’s a triumphant display that should appeal to any fan of classic
piano jazz.” Adrian Jackson, Rhythms Magazine and The Bulletin, Aust.
“Never, in all my years in Australia, have I heard anyone come even remotely close [to Joe Chindamo].” Tommy Tycho,
conductor, pianist, composer, arranger
“He has more facility on the piano than you could ever wish for, his energy is boundless, he is forever inventive and never
settles for the obvious (unless it’s the best). Never ask Joe for an idea unless you are prepared for an avalanche of creativity,
every time... The reason Joe Chindamo arrests you when you hear him is his sheer love of what he does, a love that sparkles
from every note.” James Morrison