Solo performance

Although he maintains a high profile through his trio, quartet and various collaborative projects, Mike’s solo performances and recordings have remained relatively infrequent. Mike’s  last solo  recording  Touch (1993) enjoyed  wide popular and critical success.   With  14  Mike Nock CDs being  released  since then, from duos through  to  larger groups, a  new  solo  CD is  overdue  and one  is  finally being planned  for  release in 2014.

“Indeed, we’re treated to the free rhapsodic flights of one of jazzdom’s most expansive minds. Provocative originals alternate with evocative standards. In each, Nock’s palpable appeal flows from a lyric gift given shape by a sublime musical intelligence which dances freely.” – Chuck Berg in Jazztimes (US) Sept ’95, reviewing Touch.

Touch, his solo CD, topped the Australian Jazz charts at the time of its release and his two earlier albums Talisman and Piano Solos, received worldwide critical acclaim. As a solo pianist he has toured extensively, including major European tours in 1979 / 1996, several tours of New Zealand and many concert appearances throughout Australia, Canada, USA and Asia.

“Mike Nock’s noon performance at BMW Edge for the Melbourne International Jazz festival was a rare opportunity to hear him in a solo setting, and an hour flew by as the pianist’s intuition guided him through a mesmerising set incorporating earthy, African inspired rhythms, exquisitely lyrical melodies and a delightful detour into early jazz and stride piano on James P. Johnson’s Snowy Morning Blues.” – The Age (Melbourne) May 9th, 2007, Review of Melbourne International Jazz Festival

“Mike Nock is a marvellous pianist” – San Francisco Examiner (USA) Nov 3rd 2000 (concert review)

“His playing was sublime. A supreme sense of rhythmic invention underpinned the performance.” – The Press, Christchurch (New Zealand) November 30th, 1999 (Review of Solo concert)

“Solo performances by Mike Nock are rare in Sydney, and this one carried an even rarer impression of watching over the shoulder of an artist at work. The pieces in his wide-ranging repertoire were all vehicles for a free association of improvisatory ideas, presented with a blend of humility and magisterial authority.”– Sydney Morning Herald May 29 1999 (Solo concert at S.O.H. Studio)

Download the music for ‘Red Descending’

Red Descending is basically a jazz waltz and although the occasional bar of 5/4 might make it difficult to dance to, I hope you’ll still find it fun to play.

 

Free download of sheet music for ‘Red Descending’

There will be more of Mike’s music made available for free download (piano music, jazz tunes & even ensemble pieces from time to time – watch this space)

Listen

This audio is a computer simulation. ‘Red Descending’ as played by a real pianist can be heard on Michael Kieran Harvey’s In the Time of Sakura – The piano music of Mike Nock (Move Records MD3314) and on pianist Michael Houstoun’s Inland (Rattle Records – RAT-D016) Best Classical Album – 2008 NZ music awards

[audio:https://www.mikenock.com/mikenockaudio/red-descending-mike-nock.mp3]