Mike Nock

Michael Anthony Nock ONZM (born 27 September 1940)^[1] is a New Zealand jazz pianist, who lives and works in Australia.

Mike Nock
Mike Nock in 2012 by Andrew Lorien
Background information
Born	(1940-09-27) 27 September 1940 (age 84) Christchurch, New Zealand
Genres	Jazz
Occupation(s)	Musician, composer, arranger
Instrument(s)	Piano, keyboards
Website	mikenock.com

Biography

Nock was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, but spent his childhood in Ngāruawāhia.^[1][2] Nock began studying piano at 11. He attended Nelson College for one term in 1955.^[3] By the age of 18, he was performing in Australia.^[1] 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.^[1] He was a member of Yusef Lateef's group from 1963 to 1965.^[1][2]

During 1968–1970, Nock was involved with fusion, leading the Fourth Way band.^[1] From 1975 to 1985 he was a studio musician in New York after which he returned to Australia.^[1][2]

In 1987 the Best Jazz Album in the New Zealand Music Awards was Nock's Open Door with drummer Frank Gibson, Jr.^[2]

In the 2003 New Year Honours, Nock was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to jazz.^[4] In 2024, he was entered into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame.^[5]

He lives in New South Wales where he taught at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music until 2018^[6] and performs with his trio, big band, and various one-off ensembles.

Discography

Albums

List of albums, with selected details

Title	Details
Between or Beyond (as The Mike Nock Underground)	Released: 1971 Format: LP Label: MPS Records (MPS 15 261 ST)
Almanac (with Almanac: Nock, Bennie Maupin, Cecil McBee, Eddie Marshall)	Released: 1977 Format: LP Label: Improvising Artists
Magic Mansions	Released: 1977 Format: LP Label: Laurie Records (LES-6001)
In, Out and Around (as Mike Nock Quartet)	Released: 1978 Format: LP Label: Timeless (SJP 119)
The Opal Heart (David Liebman Quartet featuring Mike Nock)	Released: 1978 Format: LP Label: Enja (3065)
Talisman / Solo	Released: 1978 Format: LP Label: Enja (3071)
Climbing	Released: 1979 Format: LP Label: Tomato (2696501)
Succubus	Released: 1980 Format: LP Label: Sutra Records (SUS 1005)
Piano Solos	Released: 1980 Format: LP Label: Timeless (SJP 134)
Ondas	Released: 1981 Format: LP Label: ECM Records (ECM 1220)
Strata	Released: 1984 Format: LP, Cassette Label: Kiwi (SLC-179)
Strata	Released: 1984 Format: LP, Cassette Label: Kiwi (SLC-179)
Open Door (with Frank Gibson, Jr.)	Released: 1986 Format: LP, Cassette Label: Ode Records (SODET 260)
Beautiful Friendship (as Mike Nock Too)	Released: 1989 Format: CD, LP, Cassette Label: Ode Recorde
Dark and Curious (as Mike Nock Quartet)	Released: 1990 Format: CD, LP, Cassette Label: ABC Records (846873-2)
Touch	Released: 1993 Format: CD Label: Birdland (BL 001)
Temple (with Cameron Undy)	Released: 1996 Format: CD Label: Dancing Laughing Records (DLR 001)
Not We But One (as Mike Nock Trio)	Released: 1997 Format: CD Label: Naxos Jazz (86006-2)
Ozboppin' (as Mike Nock Quintet)	Released: July 1998 Format: CD Label: Naxos Jazz (86019-2)
The Waiting Game (with Marty Ehrlich)	Released: 2000 Format: CD Label: Naxos Jazz (86048-2)
Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven (as New York Jazz Collective with Marty Ehrlich, James Zollar, Ray Anderson, Mike Formanek & Pheeroan Aklaff)	Released: 2001 Format: CD Label: Naxos Jazz (86073-2)
Changing Seasons (with Brett Hirst & Toby Hall)	Released: 2002 Format: CD Label: DIW (DIW-628)
Live (as Mike Nock's Big Small Band)	Released: 2003 Format: CD Label: ABC Jazz (981567-6)
Duologue (with Dave Liebman)	Released: 2007 Format: CD Label: Birdland Records (BL 009) note: Recorded live in 2004
Meeting of the Waters (as The Mike Nock Project)	Released: December 2007 Format: CD Label: Jazzhead (Head086)
Andrew Klippel Compositions 1980-1983 (as Mike Nock Trio)	Released: 2008 Format: CD (limited) Label: Andrew Klippel Productions (AKP0001)
An Accumulation of Subtleties (as Mike Nock Trio)	Released: 2010 Format: 2×CD Label: FWM Records (FWM001)
Transformations (with Colin Hemmingsen & Nick Tipping)	Released: 5 December 2011 Format: Digital Label: Colin Hemmingsen Recorded in 2010
Hear and Know (as Mike Nock Trio)	Released: December 2011 Format: CD, Digital Label: FWM Records (FWM002)
Sketches	Released: December 2011 Format: CD, Digital Label: Ode Records (CDMANU5130)
Kindred (with Laurence Pike)	Released: 2012 Format: CD, Digital Label: FWM Records (FWM003)
Opal Dream (with Howie Smith)	Released: 2012 Format: CD, Digital Label: Open Blue (OBCD-1201)
Suite SIMA (as Mike Nock Octet)	Released: September 2014 Format: CD, Digital Label: FWM Records (FWM004)
Two Out (with Roger Manins)	Released: May 2015 Format: CD, Digital Label: FWM Records (FWM005)
The Monash Sessions (with Tony Gould)	Released: September 2015 Format: CD, Digital Label: Jazzhead (HEAD218)
Beginning and End of Knowing (with Laurence Pike)	Released: October 2015 Format: CD, LP, Digital Label: FWM Records (FWM006)
Vicissitudes (as Mike Nock Trio with NZTrio)	Released: 2016 Format: CD, Digital Label: Rattle Records (RAT-D065)
This World (with Hamish Stuart, Julien Wilson & Jonathan Zwartz)	Released: October 2019 Format: CD, Digital Label: Lionsharecords (LSR20196)
Another Dance (with Hamish Stuart, Julien Wilson & Jonathan Zwartz)	Released: January 2022 Format: CD, Digital Label: Lionsharecords (LSR20212)
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.

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result	Ref.
2024	Mike Nock	New Zealand Music Hall of Fame	inducted	[5]

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.

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
2012	Hear and Now	Best Independent Jazz Album	Won
2015[7]	Suite Sima	Best Independent Jazz Album	Nominated
2020[8][9]	This World	Best Independent Jazz Album or EP	Nominated
2024[10]	Hearing	Best Independent Jazz Album or EP	Nominated

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards are annual awards, which recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music.

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result	Ref.
1992	Dark & Curious	Best Jazz Album	Nominated	[11]
1994	Touch	Best Jazz Album	Nominated
2000	The Waiting Game (with Marty Ehrlich)	Best Jazz Album	Nominated
2004	Big Small Band Live	Best Jazz Album	Nominated
2007	Duologue (with Dave Liebman)	Best Jazz Album	Won
2008	Meeting Of The Waters	Best Jazz Album	Nominated
2020[12]	This World (with Hamish Stuart, Julien Wilson & Jonathan Zwartz)	Best Jazz Album	Nominated
2022	Another Dance (with Hamish Stuart, Julien Wilson & Jonathan Zwartz )	Best Jazz Album	Nominated	[13]
2023	Hearing	Best Jazz Album	Nominated	[14]

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.^[15]

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result(wins only)
2004	Big Small Band Live – Mike Nock	Best Australian Contemporary Jazz Album	Won
2009	Mike Nock	Hall of Fame	inducted
2011	An Accumulation of Subtleties – Mike Nock Trio	Best Australian Contemporary Jazz Album	Won
2015	Suite Sima – Mike Nock Octet	Best Australian Jazz Ensemble	Won
2016	Beginning and End of Knowing – Mike Nock & Laurence Pike	Best Produced Album	Won

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.^[16] It was founded by the Australia Council in honour of Don Banks, Australian composer, performer and the first chair of its music board.

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
2014	Mike Nock	Don Banks Music Award	awarded

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.^[17]

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result (wins only)
1990	Mike Nock Quartet	Jazz Group of the Year	Won

Music Victoria Awards

The Music Victoria Awards are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. They commenced in 2006.

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result	Ref.
2016	Monash Sessions (with Tony Gould)	Best Jazz Album	Nominated	[18][19]