Derek Nash at The Bohemia, London
About the show
British Jazz Award-winning Derek Nash - bandleader, composer, arranger, record producer and engineer - is one of the UK’s busiest jazz musicians. He is leader of six bands, each with its own unique sound and featuring some of the top jazz musicians in the UK today.
Derek has been a full-time member of the Jools Holland Rhythm & Blues Orchestra since 2004 and is also a member of the Ronnie Scott’s Blues Explosion. With these bands, he has enjoyed sharing the stage with many great artists including Tom Jones, Eric Clapton, David Sanborn, Jack Bruce, Amy Winehouse, Michael Buble and Sir Paul McCartney. He is one of the most in-demand and respected guest instrumentalists for jazz clubs across the UK and has received numerous nominations in the British Jazz Awards. In the jazz-funk world he has performed with David Benoit, Brian Culbertson, Ernie Watts, Mezzoforte, Nelson Rangell and Don and Dave Grusin.
Derek is a prolific composer, regularly penning compositions for his various bands and undertaking commissions. He has also composed for television and radio. As an arranger, and following in the footsteps of his father, Pat Nash (who was an arranger for the BBC Northern Dance Orchestra) Derek has worked for many major artists including Jools Holland, Annie Lennox, David Sanborn, Nile Rogers, Gregory Porter and Chaka Khan.
In addition to his own recordings, Derek has also guested with other major artists including Don Grusin, Jack Bruce, Bob Dorough, Rumer and Shakatak.
Featuring - Derek Nash
Derek Nash is a vibrant and charismatic performer on all 4 saxophones from Soprano to Baritone, Derek Nash is equally at home leading the award winning Jazz ensemble Sax Appeal to Funky Heights, or swinging his way to best CD of the year 2000 with Spike Robinson. He is regularly seen with the Jools Holland Rhythm and Blues Orchestra and he has worked with musicians such as Eric Clapton, Sir Paul McCartney, Lulu, Jamie Cullum, Annie Lennox, and many more.
Rick Finlay
A full-time professional drummer, percussionist and teacher since 1983, Rick’s performance credits include Just East, Liane Carroll, Si Cranstoun, Des O'Connor, Jacqui Dankworth, Sinéad O’Connor and Mari Wilson.
He secured his first West End show chair at the age of 24, and his subsequent career as West End theatre drummer has included a 22-year run at Blood Brothers as well as Little Shop of Horrors, Chess, Time, and has seen him accompanying stars like Mel C, Natasha Hamilton, Marti Pellow, Cliff Richard, Stephanie Lawrence, David Cassidy and David Soul.
His love of jazz has led to performances with many of the finest UK Jazz soloists including Ian Shaw, Martin Speake, Derek Nash, Gilad Atzmon, Tina May, Ed Jones, Jim Mullen, Julian Stringle, Jonathan Gee, Roger Beaujolais and many others.
Television includes: Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, Parkinson, The Jethro Junction, The Late Show.
An innovative and enthusiastic teacher, Rick has directed workshops in Jazz and Latin-American percussion, as well as the business of music. He has taught at many schools and colleges including Trinity College of Music, Middlesex University.
Rick writes for, plays in and manages jazz/world quartet Just East and their record label Just East of Jazz. Lately he’s been touring with Hejira: Celebrating Joni Mitchell
Alec Dankworth
A stalwart of the British jazz scene, Alec is one of the best acoustic bass players around. Since the 1980s, Alec has worked with musicians from across genres including Nigel Kennedy, Dave Brubeck, Van Morrison and of course his parents John Dankworth and Cleo Laine.