Parris Macleod
Born in England to a musical family, Parris started playing piano at the age of four. He spent his childhood and youth experimenting with all aspects of music, giving his first public piano recital at the Cambridge University May Ball at the age of 12 and going on to perform with numerous bands in and around London.
Parris migrated to Australia in 1985 and in 1987, at 19 years of age, he built his first recording studio. Over the past 18 years, and several studios later, he has developed his music and production skills. Today Parris is well recognised not only as a recording producer, but also an engineer, composer, arranger and multi-instrumentalist. He operates his world class Cloud Studios, in a magnificent country setting on the Central Coast of NSW.
Inspiration and experience has come from his association with countless great musicians. His work with artists such as Mark Atkins, Andrew Clermont, Sunil DeSilva, Mal Eastick, Phil Emmanuel, Leon Gaer, Kirk Lorange, Phil Manning, Duncan McGuire and Chad Wackerman - to name just a few - have ensured a solid professional example from which to forge an individual attitude to his music and his career.
Parris has performed live at venues and festivals around the world from London to New York, Nashville to New Orleans and Singapore to Taiwan. He has performed at The Basement in Sydney, Tamworth Country Music Festival, (nominated 4 times for Best Instrumental in the Golden Guitar Awards), International Glass Festival (GLART) in Taiwan, Bellingen Global Carnival, Goulburn Blues Festival, Broadbeach Blues Festival, Yungaburra Folk Festival and WOMADelaide 2004 with Mark Atkins, and as a guest at the All Star Concert conducted by master percussionist Zakir Hussain. He also currently plays keyboards with Australian electric guitar master, Phil Emmanuel, and a Newcastle based blues band “Bluezoneâ€.
Although Parris has participated in a huge range of music, he always comes back to his own intimate style. His work touches the heart, and leads audiences along a journey of emotions. His passion and special touch pours outstanding vitality and depth into his music, which can easily be heard in his live performance and on his albums from the elating â€Dance of The Good Life†and “Happy as Larryâ€, to the early cultural “Didge Odysseyâ€.