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AVAILABLE NOW AT WWW.THICKRECORDS.CO.NZ
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Ben Wilcock and John Rae, long-time collaborators and co-founders of Thick Records NZ, bring their shared vision to life on this recording, captured at Auckland’s legendary Roundhead Studios. They are joined by close musical companions Patrick Bleakley and Roger Manins—both internationally regarded voices in jazz—along with emerging guitarist Theo Thompson, whose fresh sound expands the ensemble’s tonal palette. The result is a suite of original compositions that not only reflect the composers’ ideas but also serve as an open canvas for the quintet’s distinctive improvisational voices. Years of shared performance have shaped an organic, conversational interplay—music that feels at once deeply personal and effortlessly collective.
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ABOUT BEN
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"Bold and stylistically varied” - PBS FM
"A rare breed of pianist" - Jazz Scene
UK "Wilcock is an engaging pianist and composer. At times his playing brings to mind Thelonious Monk, particularly in the faster bop tracks” - London Jazz News
“Wilcock’s extreme eclecticism runs from vigorous, sometimes minimalist, free improvisations to rhapsodic solos which will be deeply attractive to the average listener” - Eric Meyers, The Australian
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Ben Wilcock is a New Zealand pianist, composer, and recording artist known for his distinctive voice in contemporary jazz. After years of work as a sought-after session musician, Wilcock shifted his focus toward original composition, launching a prolific solo career defined by creative risk and stylistic range.
In 2014, he co-founded Thick Records NZ with drummer John Rae, marking the beginning of a long-standing collaboration. That same year, Wilcock released Sneaky Weasel with his trio The Jelly Rolls, followed by The Phantom Canoe (2017), a conceptual suite inspired by Te Arawa narratives.
Wilcock has since released five albums as a leader. His 2020 solo piano album Goodnight T.V. showcased a more introspective side of his artistry, while 2021’s The River Tethys pushed boundaries with its bold harmonic exploration and improvisational freedom.
In 2024 he released Splendid Isolation (2024), is a 14-track album of original material co-written with John Rae, continuing their innovative partnership and further solidifying Wilcock's place as a leading voice in New Zealand jazz.
The latest release is another collaboration with John Rae called March of The Octopus. Recorded at Roundhead studios in Auckland and featuring Roger Manins on tenor saxophone, the collection of original material was released at the Wellington Jazz Festival in 2025.
In addition to his recording career, Ben Wilcock is a senior music tutor at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology in Rotorua, where he mentors the next generation of musicians. He is the pianist in the Aotearoa Jazz Orchestra.
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