Bio – Jo Abbott performer, arranger and composer
Jo Abbott has over 30yrs experience working in the entertainment industry as a bandleader/musician, theatre musician /performer, associate artist and music contributor to film and tv.
Jo is passionate about innovative creativity in performance and passionate about French and jazz music.
Jo has worked in theatre, performing the role of “Mum”/pianist with Helpmann Award-winning show “Robot Song” (Arena Theatre Company) for “Dream Big Festival”, Adelaide Playhouse, Dunstan Theatre, 2019; and the Robot Song National Tour, 2022 Sydney, Canberra and regional NSW).
Robot Song, premier season at Theatreworks, Melbourne, 2019; “Straight Up”, musician’ “Circus Oz” USA tour, 2017;
Pianist/performer with “Between the Cracks” with legendary performer Yana Alana, Between the Cracks”, Adelaide Fringe Festival 2015 (winner of best cabaret show 2105, Adelaide Fringe), Between the Cracks” Auckland International Cabaret Festival, 2015, and in the role of “accompanist” for “Death by Soprano”, National Tour, 2018, “Spiegeltent, Melbourne for Adelaide Fringe Festival, 2015; “Explorations Season” La Mama Theatre 2013; “accordionist/performer “Accidental Death of an accordionist”, La Mama Theatre; and as pianist for emerging cabaret star Lachlan Bartlett aka Iva Rosebud’s production “And I, in my chair”, Melbourne Cabaret Festival, Chapel off Chapel 2021.
As an arranger and composer Jo has written/arranged for ensemble “Sanfona” (formerly “Trio Hep”), “Alan Lee/Jo Abbott Jazz Quartet”, Music for the Heart and Mind” and “Kids Thrive Productions”
Jo has performed and toured with musical outfits “Tilly Bebe” (OzManouche Festival, Cygnet Folk Festival 2019), Ultrafox, Wangaratta Jazz and Blues Festival, Ozemanouche, Belle Musette (regional Vic tour 2012) and recorded music for the feature film Miss Fisher’s “Crypt of Tears, released 2020 with Gatsby’s Vintage Jazz band and performed on “Spicks and Specks (with “Suck’n’blow accordion trio).