FOLLOWING the soaraway success of their opening gig Brubecks play Brubeck, the Colchester Jazz Club is back with another big name in the world of jazz.
That’s acclaimed saxophonist Derek Nash, a prominent member of Jools Holland’s Rhythm and Blues Orchestra since 2004, who will be bringing his Funk Experience to Colchester Arts Centre on Sunday.
With a band featuring the outstanding vocalist Noel McCalla, the Funk Experience bring you the sounds of Grover Washington Jnr, David Sanborn, Herbie Hancock, Bill Withers, Stevie Wonder and many more, as they dig deep into the beat and groove-laden world that has inspired their journey as musicians.
At the forefront of the British jazz movement and an experienced musician of many years’ standing, Derek is regarded as one of the most versatile saxophonists in the UK today.
Apart from touring with the Jools Holland Rhythm and Blues Orchestra and Ronnie Scott’s Blues Explosion, he’s the MD of jazz fusion octet Sax Appeal, the funk/fusion band Protect the Beat and his Acoustic Quartet.
He’s also performed with top American musicians such as Don and Dave Grusin, Bob Dorough, David Benoit, Russell Ferrante and Nelson Rangell.
Derek is also highly regarded as a recording engineer, producer and arranger, with a client list that includes Jamie Cullum, Georgie Fame and Annie Lennox.
Described by Blues & Soul as one of Britain’s best soul singers, Noel McCalla rose to fame as the featured vocalist with the classic Eighties UK jazz funk band Morrisey-Mullen.
He then spent 17 years fronting Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, notching up albums with Genesis star Mike Rutherford and also performed and recorded with Icelandic jazz funk outfit Mezzoforte.
Completing the line-up will be Neil Angilley (piano/keyboards), Orefo Orakwue (electric bass) and Nic France (drums).
The Derek Nash Funk Experience is at the Colchester Arts Centre on Sunday.
Admission is £14, £12 concessions, available by calling 01206 500900 or on the doors, which open at 7pm.
For more information go to colchesterartscentre.com
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