Chris Abrahams

About

Celebrated pianist Chris Abrahams appears in a rare New York solo performance Friday, May 18th, 8pm at ISSUE Project Room’s 22 Boerum Place theater. Perhaps best known as the piano player with the long form trio the Necks, Abrahams has developed a formidable reputation as a solo pianist. His music explores the resonating properties of the vibrating piano string – coaxing from it strange, varied sounds that often transcend the generally observed tonal qualities of the instrument. At times his approach borders on the electronic – using acoustically modeled reverbs, distortion, delays, and low frequency oscillations. He conjures a meditative sound world that is both mesmerising and emotional. Chris is about to release his ninth solo album “Fluid to The Influence” on Room 40 records. 

Following initial phase of renovations on ISSUE's downtown Brooklyn theater, the organization returns home in Spring 2016 for a special series of performances utilizing the unique acoustic properties of the space before the final stage of construction begins. 

Chris Abrahams was born in Oamaru, New Zealand but grew up in Sydney, Australia. He became active in the Sydney jazz scene in the early eighties playing with modern jazz groups including Mark Simmonds’ Freeboppers and The Keys Music Orchestra. With Lloyd Swanton he formed the 60’s modern jazz-influenced The Benders in 1982. In 1984, Chris recorded and released his first solo piano album - Piano, followed in 1986 by Walk. He has further collaborated, in both recording and performance, with many contemporary improvising musicians including Burkhard Beins, Mike Cooper and Anthony Pateras. He performs regularly in the improvising music scenes both in Australia and Europe, and has recently performed at The Whitney Museum of American Art with the Necks. 

Yamaha CFX concert grand piano provided by Yamaha Artist Services, New York.