johnbostockmusic

Just heard today – its official: Melbourne’s Arko Symphonic Project, conducted by Timothy Phillips, have programmed my Concerto for Chamber Orchestra for a concert on the 8th October, 2011.
Check out their new website at
http://www.arckosymphonicproject.org.au/

16/09/10

Have just returned from a recording session at HaTeiva with Ensemble Meitar. These guys may be crazy – but they do a great job.
The air-conditioning was turned off because it creates additional noise, so soon everyone worked up a sweat.
With Arel Paz producing and Ronald recording, Guy Feder conducted Ensemble Meitar in a challenging drive towards perfection.
I discovered that this piece: “Loud Music With (Only a Few) Quiet Bits” is more difficult than I anticipated.

Performance greeted by critical silence

On 12/09/10 Ensemble Meitar gave the World Premiere performance of my work “Loud Music With (Only a Few) Quiet Bits”, during the Festival of Israeli Music.
The performance conducted by Guy Feder at the Givatayim Theatre, appeared on a program alongside works by Hana Agiashvilli, Yinam Leef and Menachem Zur.
Though broadcast live by Kol HaMusica this outstanding performance by Israel’s premiere contemporary chamber music ensemble was received in silence by Israel’s critical press.

Ensemble Meitar, Israel’s premier contemporary chamber music ensemble will be performing my work:
Loud Music with (only a few) Quiet Bits, in September 2010, at the Israeli Music Festival.

On September 24th, 2008 The Israel Contemporary Players gave a performance of my work: “Music for Eight Instruments”, as part of the Israeli Music Festival. The performance was conducted by Nizan Leibowitch after I revised the work for the instrumental combination of flute, oboe, clarinet, horn in F, vibraphone, two violins and cello.

My solo piano album – “Seeing Sky” – is now available as a digital download from CD Baby.

12/03/2008

I gave a piano recital at Hateiva in Jaffa, the home of the Israel Contemporary Players (21st Century Ensemble), to support the release of “Seeing Sky”. The concert was totally improvised from start to finish. Amit, the concert organizer, commented:
“Now I understand what you mean by the title Seeing Sky”.
I had quoted my late, respected piano teacher Roger Frampton in the publicity blurb for the concert.
He had told me: “When you improvise, a trap door opens in your head. You can see the sky, the moon and the stars. You want to reach up to touch the sky but if you do the door snaps shut. Improvisation is the act of balancing the will to reach out with the need to keep that trapdoor open.”

February 2008.
My solo piano album – “Seeing Sky” has been released.
It is available in Israel at most specialty music stores, in Australia at the Australian Music Centre and online at Jazzis and at CDBaby.

Adam Baruch from Jazzis wrote:
“Australian born pianist / composer John Bostock, living in Israel since the late 1980s is one of the most interesting musicians active in the country.”
His knowledgeable review can be found at

Adam’s review of about my 2004 release – “Journey to Gythia” – was also enthusiastic:
“I can’t imagine a more perfect execution of this music other than what is present on this record. 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. ”
Read the full review at

02/06/06

Saxophonist and vocalist – John Tchicai visited Israel last week for the White Nights Festival of Alternative Contemporary music. After he expressed the desire to work with piano and drums the organizers hastily contacted me.
We put together an hour of material (mostly freely improvised) around John’s tunes and the Monk standard Pannonica. The full audience responded ecstatically to John’s playing and singing. It was indeed a privilege to work with such an outstanding and mature musicican. I learnt much from his confidence, demeanour and modesty. He is a real gentleman.

My CD – Journey to Gythia is available from the CD Baby website. Here is a link to CD Baby.