Notes:
Jazz trumpeter Derrick Gardner, inspired by the finest hard-blowing funky bop bands of the 1960s, is working to extend that great tradition as a performer, composer and arranger, and as a full-time college educator.

Derrick quickly made his mark on the New York City jazz scene after arriving in the Big Apple in 1991 and it has enabled him to travel the world playing top-flight jazz – including five years in the Count Basie Orchestra (1991 to 1996 plus occasional guest appearances that have continued into 2009), as well as work in Frank Foster’s Loud Minority Band, Harry Connick Jr.’s Big Band, The Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra and Swiss tenor player Roman Schwaller’s European sextet.

Derrick formed his own sextet, The Jazz Prophets, in 1991, and 17 years later it continues to be the primary vehicle of his distinctive, hard-driving music. Derrick’s latest recording by The Jazz Prophets, A Ride to the Other Side.., marked his Owl Studios label debut in Spring 2008. Like Slim Goodie, his highly regarded first recording as a leader on his own Impact Jazz imprint in 2005, it bubbles with the long-standing collective’s sheer love of the soulful, funky jazz sound for which Cannonball Adderley and Horace Silver built solid foundations with their 1950s and ‘60s ensembles. Only they’re taking that sound into new, invigorating territory. The band’s three-man horn line, consisting of Derrick, tenor sax player Rob Dixon and Derrick’s brother, trombonist Vincent Gardner of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, has been together since the beginning.


Artist Roster:
Derrick Gardner: Trumpet and flugelhorn
Vincent Gardner: Trombone
Rob Dixon: Saxophone
Anthony Wonsey: Piano
Gerald Cannon: Bass
Montez Coleman: Drums
Jakuba Griffin: Drums
Khalil Kwame Bell: Percussion



Track Listing:
1. Slim Goodie
2. The Big Beat
3. Soul Talk
4. So Young, So Beautiful
5. Nica's Tempo
6. Double Entendre
7. Seed of Sin
8. Earl's Twirl



Reviews:

After listening to this CD, I'm not too worried about the future of Jazz, that is, as long as people like these are involved. See how you feel after absorbing the eight tracks on this recording. I realize peoples' tastes vary widely, but after sicty-five plus ears of serious listening I have come to trust my own taste implicitly. This means if something is happening as far as I'm concerned, it's happening! Derrick Gardner and the Jazz Prophets are happening, and, ture to their name, they're predicting a marvelous future for Jazz. - FRANK FOSTER