Chris Abrahams

by Brendan SwiftOne of Australia's premier musicians, Chris Abrahams has appeared with the Benders, the Sparklers, Peter Blakeley, the Necks, Jackie Orszaczky, and Ed Kuepper and is widely recognized as one of Australia's top keyboard players. Abrahams first public appearance came with popular jazz outfit the Benders who released three albums: E (1983), False Laughter (1984), and Distance (1985). A solo album, Piano, followed in 1985 as well as the dance-pop act, the Sparklers, where Abrahams appeared on two singles, "Overworking" (October 1986) and "So Often Dreaming" (January 1987), before leaving to be replaced by Phil Grove. During this time Abrahams also worked as a session player, appearing on albums by Laughing Clowns, the Triffids, Ed Kuepper, the Lime Spiders, and Stephen Cummings. He also appeared on two soundtracks released in 1986: Illusion and Dancing Daze. Another solo outing, Walk, was released in 1987. In 1989 Abrahams joined former Sparklers singer Melanie Oxley and they released an EP, Resisting Calm, as well as two soul-pop albums: Welcome to Violet and Coal. In 1990 Abrahams was voted Best Keyboard Player in Rolling Stone magazine. In 1993, he served as Midnight Oil's keyboardist on their Earth, Sun, and Moon world tour. Abrahams also played with the Necks throughout the '90s and they released several jazz albums on various labels including Sex (1990), Next (1991), Aquatic (1994), and Silent Night (1997).