Vicissitudes Mike Nock Trio & NZTrio

• Mike Nock (b. 1940):
• 1 Information Horizon 02:37
• 2 Free Radicals 02:26
• 3 Musica Solar 02:38
• 4 Catalytic Converter 03:05
• 5 Vicissitudes Pt. I, Prologue 01:27
• 6 Vicissitudes Pt. II 04:28
• 7 Vicissitudes Pt. III 03:20
• 8 Vicissitudes Pt. IV 09:15
• 9 Vicissitudes Pt. V 02:15
• 10 Vicissitudes Pt. Vi 06:43
• 11 El Testamen De Amelia 05:37
• Total Runtime 43:51

Info for Vicissitudes

Composed for jazz and classical piano trios, "Vicissitudes" was composed around a set of variations to explore the different approaches each group might bring to the same piece of music.

Intended as a way to offer something positive to the people of Christchurch in the wake of the devastating earthquake in 2011, "Vicissitudes" combines the disparate worlds of jazz and classical music to show the strength of the human spirit when faced with seemingly overwhelming obstacles.

"The suite takes the form of a theme (stated by solo piano) and variations, implicit in which are varying uses of the classical trio, and varying amounts of notation and improvisation. At the work’s heart is an evolution from post-apocalyptic eeriness to a more lyrical, elegiac and impressionistic world, and then a subtle strengthening that lies somewhere between stoicism and optimism. All the while the classical trio flits and swirls through Nock’s supple band as organically as leaves falling from a tree. The final piece, the traditional El Testamen Da Amelia, Nock plays alone, and this is worth the price of admission all by itself." (John Shand)

Mike Nock Trio:
Mike Nock, piano
Brett Hirst, bass
James Waples, drums
NZTrio:
Justine Cormack, violin
Ashley Brown, cello
Sarah Watkins, piano

Mike Nock
Nock’s career has spanned a broad range of contemporary musical styles and he is widely recognised as an important voice in Australian modern music.

Based in Sydney since 1986, he previously spent 25 years in the USA, working with many of the world’s top jazz artists.

His compositions include orchestral music, woodwind / percussion ensembles, electronic / choral works etc., and have been recorded and performed by a range of jazz & non-jazz performers.

Attracting many awards and honours over his lengthy career in 2014 he was awarded the Don Banks Music Award, the most valuable individual music award in Australia.

In 2009 he was inducted into the Bell Awards Australian Jazz Hall of Fame and in 2003 presented with the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM).

In 2010 a biography of Mike’s life and career was published: Serious Fun: The Life and Music of Mike Nock. (Norman Meehan, Victoria University Press) As music director of Naxos Jazz from 1996 to 2002 he oversaw the production of more than 60 internationally released CDs.

This album contains no booklet.