John Pochée will be presented with the Distinguished Services To Australian Music at the Art Music Awards on 22 August.
John’s career has been continuous since starting off in 1956. Since 1978 John Pochée has played, recorded and toured internationally with The Last Straw, The Judy Bailey Quartet, The Engine Room, Ten Part Invention and Bernie McGann’s trios and quartets.
“John is a dynamic, passionate, original, powerful, inventive, swinging drummer; a visionary and enthusiastic bandleader. John’s commitment to creating opportunities for the performance and recording of contemporary Australian jazz has been outstanding. He has worked with incredible determination, vision and expertise to make Australia a place where jazz and improvised music can thrive. John has been very proactive in his support of female jazz musicians and deserves special acknowledgement for this”, said jazz composer and saxophonist Sandy Evans.
John has worked with Shirley Bassey and was the musical director of The Four Kinsmen in the 70s and 80s.
In 1990 and 1992 he received the Australian Jazz Critics Award for drums and was awarded the Graeme Bell Hall of Fame Achievement Award at the Australian Jazz Bell Awards in 2006.
John Pochée was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2014.
2017 ART MUSIC AWARDS
Tuesday 22 August
City Recital Hall, Sydney
With host Simon Marnie and live music curation by Gabriella Smart
