Jack Body Photo: Gareth Watkins / Lilburn Trust / Wallace Arts Trust
Jack Body’s music covers almost all genres, including solo and chamber music, orchestral music, music-theatre, music for dance and film as well as electro-acoustic music. A fascination with the music and cultures of Asia, particularly Indonesia, has been a strong influence. He has been commissioned by the Auckland Philharmonia, NZ String Quartet, NZSO, BBC Scottish Orchestra and many other groups, and has written three works for the Kronos Quartet.
In 1999 he was awarded a New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to music, and in 2004 he was honoured by the Arts Foundation of NZ as a laureate. Jack was a passionate advocate for New Zealand music, beginning with the Sonic Circus series of concerts in Wellington in the 1960s. He organised three Asia Pacific Festivals featuring the contemporary and traditional music of New Zealand and our Asian neighbours. Jack was the editor of Waiteata Music Press from 1981 until his retirement in 2013.
Jack said 'John Lee's Pluck' is "a kind of snappy guitar track from John Lee Hooker, intimate and nervous in its syncopations." It's one of 'Two Blues' Jack arranged for violin, cello and piano and is a transcription of a John Lee Hooker piece.
