Derek Nash, a pioneer of British Jazz, is described as “one of the most versatile Saxophonists today in the UK” by The Guardian. He has been part of the Jools Holland Rhythm and Blues Orchestra for more than 30 years, has fronted the funk/fusion band Protect the Beat and is a member Ronnie Scott’s Blues Explosion. His energetic, vibrant, passionate, and charismatic performances on all four of his saxophones (from the soprano to the baritone) are what make him a standout performer. He has been awarded the John Dankworth Award as well as the British Jazz Award (Small group) for Sax Appeal. He was nominated for Best Jazz CD for Young Lions, Old Tigers. In 2012, he also received the British Jazz Award for Joyriding by The Derek Nash Acoustic Quartet. He was nominated by the Global Music Foundation for Jazz Musician Of The Year and regularly appears in the British Jazz Awards nominations in various categories (Alto/Tenor, Baritone). Three solo CDs have been recorded by him: Setting New Standards (1998) with Clark Tracey and Alec Dankworth; Snapshot (2009) featuring Jan Lundgren and Geoff Gascoyne; and Joyriding (2012) which he co-produced with Geoff Gascoyne, Sebastiaan De Krom and Geoff Gascoyne. Derek is a member of the Jools Holland Blues Orchestra and performs at least 100 gigs each year. He was also a featured soloist at the Glastonbury Festival for more than 100,000 people. He has performed on television and live with greats such as Eric Clapton and Emeli Sande, Jessie J and Sir Paul McCartney. Sax Appeal featured many of the UK’s top saxophonists, including Mornington Lockett (Gary Plumley), Bob McKay and Simon Allen. The top rhythm section includes Mike Bradley (drums), Phil Scragg, Pete Adams (piano), and Mike Bradley (bass). Six CDs have been recorded by them: Flat Out (1991), Outside In (1994), Let’s Go (1997), Take No Prisoners (2000) and The Flatiron Suite (2006). Funkerdeen (2014) is their fourth album. The Sax Appeal Big Band, an expanded version of the core group, features four trumpets and three trombones. It includes some of the finest musicians, including Winston Rollins (Martin Gladdish), Martin Shaw, Jon Scott and Danny Marsden. Soon, their long-awaited debut CD will be released. Protect the Beat plays original, contemporary funk/groove material following the lead of Morrisey Mullen, The Yelowjackets, and other greats. Darby Todd (drums), Winston Blissett(bass), Arden Hart (“piano”), Tim Cansfield (guitar), and Tim Cansfield (“guitar”) are all members of the band, which has performed at Jazz festivals around world. They have also played with Buddy Whittington, Massive Attack and George Clinton. Two CDs were released by the band – It Ain’t Dinner Jazz (2002 and 2007). Derek is a member the Ronnie Scott’s Blues Explosion and performs at the club regularly with blues legends Tony Remy (guitar), Marcus Bonfanti, Paddy Milner (vocals u0026 guitar), Nick Cohen (bass), Frank Tontoh(drums), Paul Newton and Winston Rollins (trombone). One of their top blues performers is Jack Bruce. The band impressed him so much that he invited them on his European tour. Derek is a composer, arranger and performer who has written almost all of the Sax Appeal repertoire. His Setting New Standards CD was created in collaboration with Pat Nash (arranger for the BBC Northern Dance Orchestra over 35 years). Joyriding, his CD, includes seven new and varied compositions. He has composed music for radio and TV. He has also written arrangements for Annie Lennox and Mavis Staples as well as Lulu, Kylie Minogue and Ruby Turner. Many other artists have recorded with him, including Don Grusin and George Melly, Bob Dorough. He also appeared on CDs that included Shakatak, Lulu. David Sanborn. India Arie, Geoff Gascoyne. Alison Moyet. Digby Fairweather, Trudy Kerr. He has performed with Don and Dave Grusin as well as Ray Gelato and John Ehteridge and Snake Davis. Ben Waters is another boogie-maestro. He appears on the CDs Shakin’ In The Makin’, Hurricane, and Boogie For Stu. Also, he performs dates with Axel Zwingenberger and Dave Green. Clowns Pocket Recording Studio is owned and operated by Derek. Derek is a producer and engineer who has worked with many musicians, including Jamie Cullum (who received a gold record for Pointless Nostalgic), Bobby Wellins and Martin Drew. ….. Derek is the son and daughter of Pat Nash who was a well-respected arranger for BBC Northern Dance Orchestra for more than thirty-five year. He started his musical journey at age six with piano and then moved to saxophone when he was thirteen. This was after being inspired by Gary Cox, a NDO tenor jazzophonist. Stockport Schools Stagesound was his first step to performing in the Schools Proms at The Royal Albert Hall. This led to performances with Ronnie Scott and Don Lusher, as well as Henry Lowther. Stockport Schools Stagesound’s sax section formed the early Sax Appeal. They won the National Festival of Music for Youth (small-band category) and performed original compositions on radio and television for the Schools Proms. While studying at University Derek was the Musical Director of Stockport Schools Stagesound, returning to the Albert Hall as the conductor. Derek graduated in 1982 from Salford University with an electroacoustics degree. He then moved to London to join BBC’s sound department and had some fun with shows like The Young Ones and The Two Ronnies. He also contributed to the soundtracks of The Generation Game and Blankety Blank. He also worked with Hetty Wainthropp Investigates and Porgy and Bess on Bobby Davro’s Rock With Laughter! He had the privilege of mixing the Branford Maralis Quartet, Orphy Robinson, Julian Joseph and the Don Cherry Band for broadcast television. Derek moved to London and joined Mr B Plays Basie, where he met trumpeter Kevin Robinson, trombonist Mark Bassey and trombonist Ashley Slater. He also reformed Sax Appeal, with Dave Bishop, Pete Hurt, and Simon Hale. They were a busy touring group, playing at the Marciac Jazz Festival, Cork Jazz Festival and the British Council tour to Venezuela. Barbara Thompson’s Big Band, Moving Parts, included the sax section. Derek later wrote Two’s Company for them. In partnership with Spike Robinson, the US tenor jazzophonist, he formed the Young Lions, Old Tigers Band. Derek has been a successful solo performer since the 1980s. He has performed at numerous jazz clubs across the UK, and toured with the Bootleg Beatles, Matt Bianco’s vocalist Basia and Suzi Quatro. He was a top five performer in five categories of the British Jazz Awards in 2000. In 2003, he decided to leave the BBC to focus on his recording and performing careers. Clowns Pocket Recording Studios became one of the most prominent jazz studios in the UK. John Etheridge has called him “the UK’s Rudy van Gelder” He is an integral part of Trudy’s Jazz for Juniors. His passion is jazz education and keeping music alive. Musical Highlights: Roy Wood performing “I Wish It Could Be Christmas” in Birmingham. It was the night before Christmas Eve, with over 5000 people singing along to “All the Young Dudes” by Ian Hunter on Jools’ Hootenanny. As a teenager, I loved this song so it was a pleasure to perform it with Ian. These are two comedy favorites from my childhood. Premiere of The Flatiron Suite in Boulder Colorado, with Russ Ferrante (from Yellowjackets), on piano. Received standing ovation by 2500 people. Overwhelming! As Oscar Castro Neves, Jobim’s guitarist, sat beside me while he performed The Girl from Ipanema. It was amazing to hear the wonderful bossa Nova in such a intimate setting. David asked me to perform his features. It was a frightening experience that was then followed by the comment, “hey, you don’t have me.” This cat has all my licks! He is a very genuine, kind man. Backstage rehearsal at Cardiff Millennium Stadium with Eric Clapton. Eric sang unamplified while playing guitar through a practice amp of 10 watts. The most intimate setting for real blues. Musical Lowlights Saxagrams are not for everyone. I was young and needed the money. No, I didn’t take off my clothes! For a condom advertisement, I played “When Johnny Comes Marching home” ‘Nuff said! Perform at the Royal Albert Hall but to less than 50 people in a poorly advertised charity gig. It was a sad sight! From www.dereknash.com
