Joe Chindamo

"Number 1 jazz release for 2001." Kenny Weir, Sunday Herald Sun.

When the "The Joy of Standards" was released in Japan last year it immediately raced to the number one position on the HMV modern jazz charts, leading such world renowned artists as Keith Jarrett, Kenny Barron, George Cables and Bill Evans. Joe Chindamo has been described by many as Australia's best jazz pianist and is considered one of this country's greatest national jazz treasures. He was born in Melbourne, Australia in 1961 and began his musical studies on accordion at the age of 6. He switched to the piano at the age of 15 and began working professionally shortly after, embarking on a truly eclectic career.

In 1990 Chindamo began touring with drummer Billy Cobham, taking him to Europe, England, the United States, Argentina and Japan on many occasions. Ray Brown and Michael & Randy Brecker played on his first two recordings as leader ("A Brief History of Standard Time" and "Reflected Journey" respectively). He has recorded two further CDs, "Anyone Who Had a Heart", a tribute to Burt Bacharach, which won the Australian Broadcasting Commission's listener's choice award for best jazz CD of 1997 and "Good Little Ploy", featuring Joe's compositions and orchestrations performed by his trio and a large string orchestra.

Chindamo has played with everyone from Ernie Watts and Lee Konitz to Shirley Bassey and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa. He has also performed on over 60 film sound tracks, working with this genre's most illustrious names such as Jerry Goldsmith and Angelo Badalamenti.

Citing Oscar Peterson as his first piano influence, Chindamo went on to master the art of jazz piano through studying the playing of all the great jazz pianists. He has evolved a pianistic voice which is very much his own, possessing an ability to make the piano sing as only a few jazz pianists have been able to do. His musical language draws inspiration from an incredibly wide range of musical domains. Listen to the opening measures of When I fall in love and you will hear echoes of composers such as Aaron Copland and Samuel Barber. Chindamo's lush playing is at its most seductive on this track. The opening of Charade almost promises an Irish jig while his own Another Story is a melancholic reverie of his Southern Italian heritage. But it's his ability to homogenize these musical vignettes and sail effortlessly from one to the other in the most natural way that makes his music special. No less remarkable is the interplay Chindamo enjoys with his cohorts, bassist Ben Robertson (who must be one of the most lyrical bassists in contemporary jazz) and drummer David Beck (who's maturity belies his 25 years). Their ensemble creations are the result of serious doses of telepathic powers, giving the listener the impression that they could just fly off on a whim in any direction and at any moment. Gentle Rain, which was the Chindamo trio's first and unrehearsed performance of this song, is a great example of this.

Every song recorded here tells its own story, each enveloped in a veil of exquisite beauty. We hope you enjoy this collection of some of most beautiful standards ever written, performed by one of today's most innovative and distinctive trios in jazz. "The Joy Of Standards" has finished the year as one of Australia's most widley acclaimed and best-selling jazz recordings. The epitome of taste and imagination, this set is a landmark in Australian jazz piano." Kevin Jones, The Australian.

"One of the top 10 Australian jazz releases of 2001." John Shand, Birdland News.

"One of the best sellers for the last 12 months." Birdland, Sydney.
(RRP: $26.95)

1. I Hear A Rhapsody
2. Moon And Sand
3. Bill Remembered
4. Charade
5. I Fall I N Love Too Easily
6. Old Folks
7. Waltz For Matilda
8. Gentle Rain
9. Another Story
10. When I Fall In Love