John Bostock - composer/improvising musician. Among his composition teachers were: Arie Shapira (Israel) and Anne Boyd (Sydney, Australia), Leon Schidlowsky (Israel) and Ross Edwards (Sydney); jazz piano teachers: Hal Galper(New York)and Roger Frampton (Sydney) and Don Sebesky (New York) with whom he studied Contemporary Writing and Arranging.
He has appeared at the 2006 White Night Festival in Tel Aviv, with saxophonist John Tchicai, at the Tel Aviv Jazz Festival, 2006, with Danny Benedict and Ora Boazson-Horev; and at Jazz for Peace Festival, Pescara, Italy, 2003, Jazz, Blues and Videotapes Festival, Tel Aviv, 1998, Jazz at the Red Sea Festival, Eilat, Israel, 1997, and the Israel Festival, Jerusalem, in 1996 with the Albert Beger Quartet.
He performed with the Albert Beger Quartet from its inception in 1994, and recorded two CD’s with them: “This Life” (released by NMC in Israel and Sony Corporation in Europe) and “The Primitive”( NMC).
Available recordings include: Seeing Sky - a disc of solo piano improvisations, Journey to Gythia - original jazz compositions in a piano trio format, and Works 1993 - 2001 - a collection of Orchestral and Chamber music.
Regrettably, Bostock does not play or follow football.
Awards
John Bostock received the “Golden Feather” Prize from ACUM,
the Society of Authors, Composers and Music Publishers in
Israel, on two occasions; in 2000 for his "String Quartet
No 1" and in 2004 for "When Thou My Love Who".
“Bostock's works are the opposite of postcards: sketches of
feelings and emotions, based on patient observation and
profound attentiveness.” Ben Shalev " Ha’Aretz.
"Australian born pianist / composer John Bostock, who has
been living in Israel since the late 1980s, is one of the
most interesting musicians active in the country. "Seeing
Sky", collects Bostock’s solo piano pieces, recorded over a
period of eight years. The music ranges from spontaneous
compositions to improvisations on written themes. It might
come as a great surprise to the listener to find out how
beautifully melodic this music is, even when completely
improvised
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“Bostock's works are the opposite of postcards: sketches of
feelings and emotions, based on patient observation and
profound attentiveness.” Ben Shalev " Ha’Aretz.
"Australian born pianist / composer John Bostock, who has
been living in Israel since the late 1980s, is one of the
most interesting musicians active in the country. "Seeing
Sky", collects Bostock’s solo piano pieces, recorded over a
period of eight years. The music ranges from spontaneous
compositions to improvisations on written themes. It might
come as a great surprise to the listener to find out how
beautifully melodic this music is, even when completely
improvised. Full of lyricism and melancholy, the melody
lines come and go, shifting in the shadows of the music.
The sound quality is exceptional and the piano sounds
completely realistic with great presence and sound clarity.
Highly recommended!" - Adam Baruch, Jazzis Web Shop.
Adam Baruch was ecstatic about "Journey to Gythia" -
"Supported by two marvelous players: Guy Levy on bass and
Danny Benedict on drums, this piano trio is truly
exceptional, bringing immediate associations with Bill
Evans, especially in view of the absolute technical
brilliance and fluidity of Bostock’s piano playing, the
amazing interplay between the trio members and the
romantic, lyrical character of the music. The music, is
also exceptional. Beautifully melodic and yet full of
brilliant ideas and harmonic surprises, seemingly “easy” on
the ear but full of unique ideas. This album shatters the
common cliche - classical musicians can’t swing - as it
swings like hell from start to finish. Beautifully
recorded, with perfect balance between the three
instruments, it surely deserves the title of an audiophile
recording. I can say with clear conscience that this is one
of the best Jazz albums ever recorded in Israel and I can’t
wait for the next Bostock piano trio album. Marvelous!"
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Primary Instrument
Piano
Willing to teach
Advanced only
Credentials/Background
Ph.D. in Composition from University of Sydney, 2004
