Mike Nock Quintet - Ozboppin'

A Man for All Seasons. Since Naxos Jazz released its first discs, one name continually pops up both as a performer, producer and executive producer: New Zealander Mike Nock. Nock has already performed on two Naxos Jazz discs: The angular Mike Nock Trio Not We But One and the rollicking New York Jazz Collective’s I don’t Know This World Without Don Cherry. He has acted as producer or executive producer on a large number of the current Naxos Jazz releases. In short, he is all over Naxos Jazz's map.

Ozboppin'. Mr. Nock's latest endeavor is a spirited Post Bop/Avant-garde collection of originals and one standard (Ellington's "Come Sunday"). The disc's opener and title cut is a collage of solo, duo, trio and full ensemble playing. It is kind of a compressed history of Jazz in 5:11. There is a little Bebop, Hard Bop, Free Jazz, Post Bop and beyond. What a great piece. It carries on with such a harried momentum that the listener wonders when it will lose its centrifugal force and spin off into parts unknown. But Nock keeps it all together for an exciting ride. 

The Fun Doesn't Stop. This disc is full of angular ballads, defiant Jump/Hard Bop pieces and great performances by Nock's regular Australian cohorts. 

https://www.allaboutjazz.com/ozboppin-mike-nock-review-by-c-michael-bailey