“…. “I have played many of the songs all over the world”, says the musician whose decades-old piano man career has seen him play for royalty, in stately homes and watch the unfolding of Melbourne’s gangland underbelly from behind the keys”
“Fantastic songs have been written and these are beautiful ones. It doesn’t mean you can’t make them your own with an arrangement. It’s nice to let some of them back into the light sometimes. “At the same time, this was about pleasing myself. You have to be happy with songs before you can perform them and give them their own life and say “this is me” …”
As far as birthdays go, Alfredo Malabello will probably always find it hard to beat his 50th. That was the day late last year when the Perth singer and piano man signed on the dotted line for his debut album, ‘Ciao Bella’.
Those who followed the 2009 SBS crime series Carla Cametti PD, starring Diana Glenn and Vince Colosimo, might remember Malabello as the singing cook, Leo Cametti. It was his first acting gig and since then Malabello has appeared in more than two dozen movies, short films and video clips, most of them local. Oddly, it was the SBS show – rather than an extensive musical performance career – which sparked the idea for the ‘Ciao Bella’ album. “I have played many of the songs all over the world” says the musician whose decades-old piano man career has seen him play for royalty, in stately homes and watch the unfolding of Melbourne’s gangland underbelly from behind the keys.
Through his own choosing, the classic Italian and English songs from ‘Ciao Bella’ are old-fashioned, dating back to the late 60’s and 70’s. “I learnt these songs growing up in an Italian family but the versions on the album have been rearranged and are more lush” he says. “Fantastic songs have been written and these are beautiful ones. It doesn’t mean you can’t make them your own with an arrangement. It’s nice to let some of them back into the light sometimes. “At the same time, this was about pleasing myself. You have to be happy with songs before you can perform them and give them their own life and say “this is me” …”. ‘Ciao Bella’, which has just been released, contains three originals which Malabello co-wrote with local collaborators William Reid, Darren Halifax, Roy Martinez and Abramo Pietropaolo. Halifax recorded the album in Perth’s Satellite Recording Studio and Martinez produced the album.
A seasoned live performer, Malabello says that by starting his recording career later in life, at 50 he feels more mentally, spiritually, musically and emotionally ready for the next step, more so than if this had happened when he was much younger.
The West Australian
Alfredo Malabello | Could You Ever Love Me Again (Official Music Video) | Soundscape Media | Youtube
* Alfredo Malabello has harboured a burning passion for music as far back as he can remember. “As a very young boy growing up in Adelaide, I couldn’t fall asleep unless I had the radio on. Music was my one true escape, and even now, if everything is crumbling around me, as soon as I start to play my piano and sing, the world as it is stops and my own private universe begins.”
Born to immigrant Italian parents, Sydney-based Alfredo Malabello is a true citizen of the world, and his colourful career has transported him to many places across the globe. “I’ve played in cities as varied as New York, Nashville, Tokyo, Milan, Dusseldorf, Saint Moritz, Munich, Rome, London, and all over Australia of course. What a trip it’s been!”
With over 30 years experience on stages around the world, Alfredo has earned a reputation as one of Australia’s most remarkable live artists. He has performed at VIP parties for Canadian crooner Michael Bublé, he’s entertained guests at a lavish ceremony to celebrate the opening of the 2011 Formula One in Melbourne, and he’s also shared the Sydney Opera House stage with Tina Arena. “Tina used to come and sing with me in a small bar in Melbourne in the late 1980’s, and it was a special moment when she recently chose me to sing ‘The Prayer’ with her, backed by grand sixty piece orchestra. It was a glorious highlight of my career.”
Along with his credentials on stage, Alfredo has also cemented his status as an exceptional recording artist. His 2010 debut album ‘Ciao Bella’ peaked at Number 4 on the Jazz and Blues chart in Australia, spending an astounding twenty-seven weeks in the Top Twenty. “I was pleasantly surprised with the success of ‘Ciao Bella’, and I’m thrilled I’m able to connect with so many people.” His 2nd album ‘The Two Of Us’ achieved the number 2 spot on the National ARIA Jazz and Blues Charts in Nov 2011.
He is a man of many surprising talents. He has established himself as an actor, getting major roles in the acclaimed SBS series ‘Carla Cametti PD’, Channel Nine’s successful ‘Underbelly Files’, ABC’s ‘The Devils Dust’, ‘Tricky Business’, UK TV’s ‘Dripping In Chocolate’, and as the loveable Rocco ‘The Barrista’ in the national CGU campaign.
Even though he claims to be a “damaged rogue”, Alfredo proudly admits he wears his heart on his sleeve. “I’m a hopeless romantic! In relationships, I believe a man has to be a rock.” And as Alfredo promises, “When it’s just me and my piano, you get to the real heart of who I am.” Soundscape Media.
“Australia’s ‘Voice of Romance’ Alfredo Malabello talks to Segmento”
Alfredo Malabello, many thanks for taking time out to see me. You are a fascinating and impressive man with many strings to your bow and balls in the air. You have built a name for yourself as a musician/pianist, singer and all-round entertainer with a “Voice of Romance”. An icon in the Australian music industry, you feature heavily in the media … and have been called “Australia’s very own Italian son of song”.
I started performing as a solo artist piano playing and singing and touring around Australia playing at resorts and I must admit that that was the beginning of my musical persona. I moved to Perth on the eve of the America’s Cup in 1987 and for just a relationship with the wealthy glitterati of Western Australia and performed at many illustrious parties …. some extremely decadent! Have you ever seen the movie ‘Eyes Wide Shut’? Well that is pretty much the sort of life I lead at these parties for many, many years. I’m gloriously tainted.
Now is the time to dive into romance more passionately, courageously, with more wild abandon than ever before. Don’t hold back!
Alfredo Malabello | My Love (Official Music Video) | Ode To The Dudes | Youtube
* Scoring a record deal is tough. Managing it at 50 years of age is even tougher. If you are not flaunting yourself on a reality television program, locking in a deal means working hard to refine your craft, define your sound and prove your talent.
Fifty-year-old Perth crooner Alfredo Malabello got the best present possible on his recent milestone birthday – Universal Music was going to release an album of Italian and English songs performed by him, including three original songs of his. With a voice that sounds a little like Harry Connick Jr’s at times, the album, called, swings from romantic and sexy moments to funky bigger band tunes.
Malabello, who certainly has some charisma, refers to himself as a “piano man”. He has roamed the planet for a good 30 years performing in bars, swanky restaurants and at private parties (including one soiree hosted by mullet-wearing ballad specialist Michael Bolton). “I’ve got hundreds and hundreds of amazing stories that I’ve witnessed” Malabello says over a latte at Perth cafe Mooba.
“I’ve been all over the world about 25 times. I was playing in the sleaziest dives, the most opulent restaurants, palatial homes, casinos, awesome restaurants and cocktail bars.”
Now Malabello lives in Inglewood with his two sons, living what he describes as a modest lifestyle as he works on music videos and promotion. A creative with the nerve to start afresh and reinvent himself no matter what his age, Malabello started acting not too long ago? and scored his first paid role on SBS show. His character often sang Italian songs in the kitchen, and it was that exposure that brought the kind of attention that eventually led to the recent deal. “The album was spawned from the Carla Cametti thing,” Malabello says. “I play lots of different styles of music, but this album is styled more towards those people who were watching, a European, or culturally diverse demographic.
“And because I was a certain age I chose those songs because the Italian songs are the songs I loved when I was a kid.” Malabello refined his musical choices by learning which tunes resonated with different crowds as he performed with a keyboard around the world. “The English songs are all one-hit wonders that I used to play around the world,” he said. “They are a handful of the songs that work the best.” Whether he was playing in the Bronx in front of an audience that was straight off the set of, or at a celebrity-filled bash with Diana Ross in the crowd, the piano man knew which tunes would get people grooving.
In Perth, Malabello has been one of the musicians of choice for the swankiest parties around. “I’ve done parties for Alan Bond – big ones – Lang Hancock, Tony Barlow, Nigel Satterley, Laurie Connell and Brian Burke,” he says. It allows the piano man to step out from behind his favourite instrument and work with several musicians, a luxury rarely afforded him during his years of travel. “I miss having musicians with me, and this album was such a joy to have the band with me,” Malabello said. “But it’s so easy to travel solo, you don’t depend on anyone, no one is waiting for you, they have got a piano there you rock up and rock on.” Malabello is planning a tour soon, and will travel the world spruiking the album. Sydney Morning Herald.
* Somewhere in the embers of last century, the work of songwriter, poet, shaman Billie Reid started to exert a pull on other independent-minded Australian talents. Stories can, and maybe will, be read about those adventures. At this point, the vessel for that work has, since 2020, been our music production biz Soundscape Media.
Billie Reid’s talents are the molten core of what we do. To those who’ve come across him, Billie’s an irascible generational talent. And we want the number of those who share that impression to grow.
Sharing the load, and bringing a canny female take on Billie’s words, is versatile Fremantle-based singer and classy piano player Lily – who’s also writing impressive material of her own.
Our artist collaboration list also includes in-house stormcrow Quinlan Porteous – a man who’s weathered years of industry bs and continues to find redemption in music regardless. As do we all.
Let’s hear it too for Wayne A Halifax, the man whose vibe Chris Isaak channelled. And never mind which came first – sometimes those who follow get it right, and Wayne has the advantage of Billie’s lyrics. As does Alfredo Malabello, cursed by Universal Music Australia describing him as the country’s “Voice of Romance”. He’s more content, and rightly, with the tag “Australia’s Leonard Cohen”.
Soundscape sounds dip in and out of alt-rock, Americana, and smart pop. Our production styles range from roots-raw to Netflix-friendly rock with splashes and squeals of electronica. We can do polished, but we’re a fan of loose edges and first take magic too. And we look forward to hearing from you – about what we’ve done, what we’re doing now, and what we could perhaps do together. Soundscape Media.
“… the golden thread that links these wonderful artists is Billie Reid and his songs”
Billie is a dusty troubadour, a poet and songwriter and activist whose music is steeped in concepts and images that echo down the centuries. Here and now they wear the clothes of rootsy Americana, Celtic seers, and the holy ghost of rock and roll. His words spill through the mouths of some of our other artists, new light pouring through glass stained with red wine, raised to toast victories, remember the fallen, and curse those whose fall we ache for.
Sometimes Billie writes stripped-down, just a few words capturing the core of a moment, an emotion, that listeners can connect with. Other times he packs syllables with density that warps space and time. Even across the course of a couplet he can go from what feels like a classic folk song in words and delivery before a collision with Dorothy Parker’s acerbic wit: “They won’t let us live on the beaches ‘n’ trees, while they breakfast at Maximes, and brunch at Los Angeles”. In a flash Billie does with 19 words something akin to what Kubrick did with his classic cut from a neanderthal throwing a bone at the sky to a spaceship floating above the Earth in ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’.
Something of that process applies to Billie’s way with constructing a song. Or you could hop and skip to science fiction writer Samuel R Delany, author of books including ‘The Einstein Intersection’, and as a musician part of the ‘Greenwich Village’ scene that spawned Dylan. The angle he had on those years as a queer black guy is fresh – like the eye Billie brings to the world we’re accelerating into now, and may be heading away from at lightspeed assuming things work out the way they could. Whether the impact of that counts as better or worse is the kind of judgement call that Billie’s around to chronicle.
