Monique diMattina

Monique diMattina (born 1971) is an Australian jazz pianist, singer and composer. DiMattina is stylistically versatile, composing and performing in a range of genres encompassing jazz roots, country, blues, classical and other contemporary styles.^{[1] [2]}

Since 2019 diMattina has been writing STELLA, a musical telling the life story of Australian author Stella Miles Franklin. STELLA ^[3] is in development towards a theatrical debut in May 2025 at the Alexander Theatre Monash.

In 2002 diMattina's first album Live at the 55 was recorded at the 55 Bar in NYC, an instrumental collection of blues/roots covers and originals feat. Adam Armstrong on bass, Kim Thompson on drums, diMattina on wurlitzer piano and K. T Tolhurst on pedal steel. In 2009 diMattina released her first solo piano album, Senses^[4], followed by Welcome Stranger^[5] in 2010. Welcome Stranger comprises mostly original jazz/roots songs, with one cover of Paul Kelly's song "Dumb Things" in a New Orleans style. In 2011 diMattina's second solo piano album, Sun Signs, was designed around the 12 signs of the zodiac. During this period diMattina performed a regular segment called "Shaken Not Rehearsed" on radio station 3RRR 102.7 FM on Tim Thorpe's Vital Bits program and later on ABC 774 composing bespoke songs on air to listener requests within the hour.^[6] DiMattina also performed in the Clare Bowditch musical theatre piece Eva based on the life of jazz singer Eva Cassidy and opened for Chris Botti on his Australian tour. In 2012 diMattina recorded her fifth album, Nola's Ark^[7], at Piety Studios in New Orleans with producer Mark Bingham (John Scofield, Cassandra Wilson) and musicians from the bands of Harry Connick Jr and Dr John including Leroy Jones on trumpet, Matt Perrine on bass and June Yamagishi on guitar.^[6] Many of the eight original songs on the album originated in the "Shaken Not Rehearsed" segment. Nola's Ark was released on Head Records in May 2013.

In 2015 diMattina released Everybody Loves Somebody^[8] on Head Records. Rhythms Magazine wrote Monique diMattina has reached that hallowed ground where influences and inspirations coalesce to produce a unique voice. On this new album, jazz sensibilities and classic songwriting skills blend to produce something reminiscent of the jazzier shadows of Rickie Lee Jones or Joni Mitchell. ^[9] In 2016 diMattina was musical director of Tapestry: The Music of Carol King starring Vika Bull and Debra Byrne^[10].

In 2021 diMattina self-released her third solo piano album TIDES^[11], a collection of 10 neo-classical compositions written during the Covid lockdowns of 2020. She Reads Me from the TIDES album is included in the Victorian Certificate of Education Piano Repertoire curriculum. Recently diMattina has toured with Australian singer-songwriter Rebecca Barnard in their jointly penned shows The Dao of Dylan and Honky Tonk Women and produced and arranged Barnard's album The Night We Called it a Day^[12].

DiMattina performs regularly in Melbourne Australia, and teaches at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music and Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music, Monash University.

• Live @ The 55 (2002) Elwood Records
• Senses (2007) Head Records
• Welcome Stranger (2010) Head Records
• Sun Signs (2011) Head Records
• Nola's Ark (2013) Head Records
• Everybody Loves Somebody (2015) Head Records
• ' 'TIDES(2021)

• "Say My Name" (2012)

• Clare Bowditch - The Winter I Chose Happiness
• Belinda Moody – Moody's Brood
• Martha Baartz – Twelve Salutations
• Andrew Swann – The Braves
• Andrew Swann – Southside Blues
• Andrew Swann – Nasty Cook
• Andrew Firth – Montage
• Tanya Lee Davies - The Duetting Damsel

• Official website
• diMattina on Twitter
• diMattina on YouTube
• Article in the Sydney Morning Herald
• Article on Australian Jazz website
• Profile in Inside Story
• Recording on Daily Planet