Michael Anthony Nock (born 27 September 1940) is a New Zealand jazz pianist, who lives and works in Australia.
Biography Nock was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, but spent his childhood in Ngāruawāhia. Nock began studying piano at 11. He attended Nelson College for one term in 1955.Nelson College Old Boys' Register, 1856–2006, 6th edition By the age of 18, he was performing in Australia. In Sydney he played in The Three Out trio with Freddy Logan and Chris Karan who toured England in 1961 before Nock left to attend Berklee College of Music. He was a member of Yusef Lateef's group from 1963 to 1965.
In 1965-1966 Nock joined Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers, replacing Keith Jarrett.
During 1968–1970, Nock was involved with fusion, leading the Fourth Way band. From 1975 to 1985 he was a studio musician in New York after which he returned to Australia.
In 1987 the Best Jazz Album in the New Zealand Music Awards was Nock's Open Door with drummer Frank Gibson, Jr.
In the 2003 New Year Honours, Nock was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to jazz. In 2024, he was entered into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame.
He lives in New South Wales where he taught at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music until 2018 and performs with his trio, big band, and various one-off ensembles.
Discography Albums {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" |+ List of albums, with selected details ! Title ! Details |- ! scope="row" | Between or Beyond(as The Mike Nock Underground) | Released: 1971 Format: LP Label: MPS Records (MPS 15 261 ST) |- ! scope="row" | Almanac(with Almanac: Nock, Bennie Maupin, Cecil McBee, Eddie Marshall) | Released: 1977 Format: LP Label: Improvising Artists |- ! scope="row" | Magic Mansions | Released: 1977 Format: LP Label: Laurie Records (LES-6001) |- ! scope="row" | In, Out and Around (as Mike Nock Quartet) | Released: 1978 Format: LP Label: Timeless (SJP 119) |- ! scope="row" | The Opal Heart(David Liebman Quartet featuring Mike Nock) | Released: 1978 Format: LP Label: Enja (3065) |- ! scope="row" | Talisman / Solo | Released: 1978 Format: LP Label: Enja (3071) |- ! scope="row" | Climbing | Released: 1979 Format: LP Label: Tomato (2696501) |- ! scope="row" | Succubus | Released: 1980 Format: LP Label: Sutra Records (SUS 1005) |- ! scope="row" | Piano Solos | Released: 1980 Format: LP Label: Timeless (SJP 134) |- ! scope="row" | Ondas | Released: 1981 Format: LP Label: ECM Records (ECM 1220) |- ! scope="row" | Strata | Released: 1984 Format: LP, Cassette Label: Kiwi (SLC-179) |- ! scope="row" | Strata | Released: 1984 Format: LP, Cassette Label: Kiwi (SLC-179) |- ! scope="row" | Open Door(with Frank Gibson, Jr.) | Released: 1986 Format: LP, Cassette Label: Ode Records (SODET 260) |- ! scope="row" | Beautiful Friendship(as Mike Nock Too) | Released: 1989 Format: CD, LP, Cassette Label: Ode Recorde |- ! scope="row" | Dark and Curious(as Mike Nock Quartet) | Released: 1990 Format: CD, LP, Cassette Label: ABC Records (846873-2) |- ! scope="row" | Touch | Released: 1993 Format: CD Label: Birdland (BL 001) |- ! scope="row" | Temple(with Cameron Undy) | Released: 1996 Format: CD Label: Dancing Laughing Records (DLR 001) |- ! scope="row" | Not We But One(as Mike Nock Trio) | Released: 1997 Format: CD Label: Naxos Jazz (86006-2) |- ! scope="row" | Ozboppin'''(as Mike Nock Quintet) | Released: July 1998 Format: CD Label: Naxos Jazz (86019-2) |- ! scope="row" | The Waiting Game(with Marty Ehrlich) | Released: 2000 Format: CD Label: Naxos Jazz (86048-2) |- ! scope="row" | Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven(as New York Jazz Collectivewith Marty Ehrlich, James Zollar, Ray Anderson, Mike Formanek & Pheeroan Aklaff) | Released: 2001 Format: CD Label: Naxos Jazz (86073-2) |- ! scope="row" | Changing Seasons(with Brett Hirst & Toby Hall) | Released: 2002 Format: CD Label: DIW (DIW-628) |- ! scope="row" | Live(as Mike Nock's Big Small Band) | Released: 2003 Format: CD Label: ABC Jazz (981567-6) |- ! scope="row" | Duologue (with Dave Liebman) | Released: 2007 Format: CD Label: Birdland Records (BL 009) note: Recorded live in 2004 |- ! scope="row" | Meeting of the Waters(as The Mike Nock Project) | Released: December 2007 Format: CD Label: Jazzhead (Head086) |- ! scope="row" | Andrew Klippel Compositions 1980-1983(as Mike Nock Trio) | Released: 2008 Format: CD (limited) Label: Andrew Klippel Productions (AKP0001) |- ! scope="row" | An Accumulation of Subtleties(as Mike Nock Trio) | Released: 2010 Format: 2×CD Label: FWM Records (FWM001) |- ! scope="row" | Transformations (with Colin Hemmingsen & Nick Tipping) | Released: 5 December 2011 Format: Digital Label: Colin Hemmingsen Recorded in 2010 |- ! scope="row" | Hear and Know (as Mike Nock Trio) | Released: December 2011 Format: CD, Digital Label: FWM Records (FWM002) |- ! scope="row" | Sketches| Released: December 2011 Format: CD, Digital Label: Ode Records (CDMANU5130) |- ! scope="row" | Kindred (with Laurence Pike) | Released: 2012 Format: CD, Digital Label: FWM Records (FWM003) |- ! scope="row" | Opal Dream(with Howie Smith) | Released: 2012 Format: CD, Digital Label: Open Blue (OBCD-1201) |- ! scope="row" | Suite SIMA(as Mike Nock Octet) | Released: September 2014 Format: CD, Digital Label: FWM Records (FWM004) |- ! scope="row" | Two Out(with Roger Manins) | Released: May 2015 Format: CD, Digital Label: FWM Records (FWM005) |- ! scope="row" | The Monash Sessions(with Tony Gould) | Released: September 2015 Format: CD, Digital Label: Jazzhead (HEAD218) |- ! scope="row" | Beginning and End of Knowing(with Laurence Pike) | Released: October 2015 Format: CD, LP, Digital Label: FWM Records (FWM006) |- ! scope="row" | Vicissitudes (as Mike Nock Trio with NZTrio) | Released: 2016 Format: CD, Digital Label: Rattle Records (RAT-D065) |- ! scope="row" | This World(with Hamish Stuart, Julien Wilson & Jonathan Zwartz) | Released: October 2019 Format: CD, Digital Label: Lionsharecords (LSR20196) |- ! scope="row" | Another Dance(with Hamish Stuart, Julien Wilson & Jonathan Zwartz) | Released: January 2022 Format: CD, Digital Label: Lionsharecords (LSR20212) |- ! scope="row" | Hearing| Released: July 2023 Format:CD, digital Label: ABC
Awards
New Zealand Music Hall of Fame Noteworthy New Zealand musicians are inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame.
! |- | 2024 | Mike Nock | New Zealand Music Hall of Fame | |rowspan="1"|
AIR Awards The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.
|2012 |Hear and Now |Best Independent Jazz Album
|2015 |Suite Sima |Best Independent Jazz Album
|2020 |This World|Best Independent Jazz Album or EP
| 2024 |Hearing| Best Independent Jazz Album or EP
ARIA Music Awards The ARIA Music Awards are annual awards, which recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music.
! |- |1992 |Dark & Curious|Best Jazz Album | |rowspan="7"| ARIA Award previous winners. |- |1994 |Touch|Best Jazz Album
|2000 |The Waiting Game (with Marty Ehrlich) |Best Jazz Album
|2004 |Big Small Band Live|Best Jazz Album
|2007 |Duologue (with Dave Liebman) |Best Jazz Album
|2008 |Meeting Of The Waters|Best Jazz Album
|2020 |This World (with Hamish Stuart, Julien Wilson & Jonathan Zwartz) |Best Jazz Album
|2022 |Another Dance (with Hamish Stuart, Julien Wilson & Jonathan Zwartz ) |Best Jazz Album
| 2023 | Hearing | Best Jazz Album | | rowspan="3"|
Australian Jazz Bell Awards The Australian Jazz Bell Awards, (also known as the Bell Awards or The Bells), are annual music awards for the jazz music genre in Australia. They commenced in 2003. (wins only) |- |2004 |Big Small Band Live – Mike Nock |Best Australian Contemporary Jazz Album
|2009 |Mike Nock |Hall of Fame
|2011 |An Accumulation of Subtleties – Mike Nock Trio |Best Australian Contemporary Jazz Album
|2015 |Suite Sima – Mike Nock Octet |Best Australian Jazz Ensemble
|2016 |Beginning and End of Knowing – Mike Nock & Laurence Pike |Best Produced Album
Don Banks Music Award The Don Banks Music Award was established in 1984 to publicly honour a senior artist of high distinction who has made an outstanding and sustained contribution to music in Australia. It was founded by the Australia Council in honour of Don Banks, Australian composer, performer and the first chair of its music board.
| 2014 | Mike Nock | Don Banks Music Award
Mo Awards The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly known informally as the Mo Awards), were annual Australian entertainment industry awards. They recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia from 1975 to 2016. (wins only) |- | 1990 | Mike Nock Quartet | Jazz Group of the Year
Music Victoria Awards The Music Victoria Awards are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. They commenced in 2006.
! |- | 2016 | Monash Sessions'' (with Tony Gould) | Best Jazz Album | |rowspan="1"|
References
Further reading
External links
AudioCulture profile
Mike Nock archival recordings (part of Richard Nunns Collection) at the Alexander Turnbull Library From Ngaruawahia to the world stage: Jazz legend Mike Nock – interview with Mike Nock on RNZ, 7 October 2024 Mike Nock Retrospective – RNZ, 7 September 2024