Showing posts with label Tim Hopkins. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tim Hopkins. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

Mike Nock Quintet - Ozboppin' (1998)

Mike Nock has long been one of the most famous jazz musicians based in Australia, helped by the fact that he has visited the U.S. many times through the years. This CD begins with the most interesting selection, "Ozboppin'," which quickly goes from bop to Ornette Coleman, freer areas, and back to bop. Most of the other numbers alternate between melancholy ballads worthy of the mid-'60s Miles Davis Quintet to more heated numbers. Tim Hopkins on tenor recalls Wayne Shorter in spots, but has a fairly original tone, as does the talented young trumpeter Phil Slater; bassist Cameron Undy and drummer David Goodman are fine in support. With the exception of "Come Sunday" and "End of a Love Affair" (a ballad feature for Hopkins), all of the selections are Nock originals. A stimulating set of advanced hard bop. ~ by Scott Yanow, AMG. 

Naxos Jazz, 86019-2, 1998
Recorded 24th & 25th January, 1998 at Sony Music Studios, Sydney, Australia 

Musicians:
Mike Nock - Piano
Phil Slater - Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Tim Hopkins - Tenor Saxophone
Cameron Undy - Bass
David Goodman - Drums 

Tracks:
1. Ozboppin' {Mike Nock} (5:13)
2. The Philosophers {Mike Nock} (5:19)
3. Five'll Getcha! {Mike Nock} (7:04)
4. Exile {Mike Nock} (9:26)
5. Snafu {Mike Nock} (6:21)
6. Dreamtime Visitor {Mike Nock} (6:00)
7. Come Sunday {Duke Ellington} (4:37)
8. The Emperor's Clothes {Mike Nock} (5:12)
9. End Of A Love Affair {Edward Redding} (5:12) 

Total Time: 54:28 

Credits:
Producer - Mike Nock
Engineer - Ross A'Hearn
Editing - Tod Deeley
Artwork - David Perry
Liner Notes - Adrian Jackson 

Five'll Getcha!

Sunday, September 1, 2013

Mike Nock - Dark & Curious 1990

Back a few years ago when 'bluebird' sent this one to me, he mentioned that the album title was quite appropriate and he is right, this album is a bit dark and curious. This album too seems to have been primarily a New Zealand / Australia release although I saw at least one suggestion that it may have seen a quick Naxos reissue that received some wider distribution. The other members of this quartet are all guys from NZ or Australia and it sounds like this was a working quartet; at least two of these guys show up on later Naxos releases. The reed man Tim Hopkins seems to come out of the generation of guys who are heavily influenced by Michael Brecker. If I heard this blind I would have guessed it was Brecker. I've grown more and more fond of this with each listening. If you are also taken by this one, then I would suggest getting a copy of Ozboppin', a more recent Naxos release that also features Hopkins. Thanks to 'bluebird' for another fine rarity!