Mike Nock facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mike Nock
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| Born | 27 September 1940 Christchurch, New Zealand |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer, arranger |
| Instruments | Piano, keyboards |
Michael Anthony Nock (born 27 September 1940) is a famous jazz pianist from New Zealand. He is known for his amazing piano skills and for writing music. Today, he lives and works in Australia.
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About Mike Nock
Mike Nock was born in Christchurch, New Zealand. He grew up in a town called Ngāruawāhia. He started learning to play the piano when he was 11 years old. By the time he was 18, he was already performing music in Australia!
In Sydney, Australia, he played in a group called The Three Out trio. They even toured England in 1961. After that, Mike went to a special music school in the United States called Berklee College of Music. From 1963 to 1965, he was part of a group led by another famous musician, Yusef Lateef.
Mike's Music Journey
In the late 1960s, Mike Nock explored a new style of music called "fusion." This style mixes jazz with other types of music, like rock. He led his own band called The Fourth Way during this time.
From 1975 to 1985, Mike worked as a studio musician in New York. This means he played piano for many different recordings. After that, he moved back to Australia.
In 1987, his album Open Door, which he made with drummer Frank Gibson, Jr., won the award for Best Jazz Album at the New Zealand Music Awards.
Awards and Recognition
Mike Nock has received many important awards for his contributions to jazz music.
In 2003, he was given a special honor called an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit. This award recognized his great work in jazz. In 2024, he was added to the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame, which is a very big honor for musicians from New Zealand.
Today, Mike Nock lives in New South Wales, Australia. He used to teach music at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music until 2018. He still performs with his own trio, a big band, and other music groups.
Awards and Honors
Mike Nock has won many awards for his incredible jazz music. Here are some of the most important ones:
New Zealand Music Hall of Fame
The New Zealand Music Hall of Fame celebrates amazing musicians from New Zealand.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Mike Nock | New Zealand Music Hall of Fame | inducted |
AIR Awards
The AIR Awards celebrate independent music in Australia.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Hear and Now | Best Independent Jazz Album | Won |
ARIA Music Awards
The ARIA Music Awards are Australia's biggest music awards.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Duologue (with Dave Liebman) | Best Jazz Album | Won |
Australian Jazz Bell Awards
The Bell Awards celebrate jazz music in Australia.
| 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 is a special award for artists who have made a huge and lasting contribution to music in Australia.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Mike Nock | Don Banks Music Award | awarded |
Mo Awards
The Mo Awards recognized achievements in live entertainment in Australia.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result (wins only) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Mike Nock Quartet | Jazz Group of the Year | Won |
