By Peter Hum, Ottawa Citizen While many jazz lovers will think poorly of 2020 because the global pandemic killed festivals, tours and gigs, the year also nonetheless saw the release of some exceptional music, and from Canada, no less. Read more here.
Derrick Gardner – ‘Still I Rise’ 78 Derrick Gardner takes a grand leadership role on Still I Rise leading his Big dig! Band, arranging, producing and composing all of the music. The North American band has many musicians from Manitoba where Gardner resides, and they all stand tall. The layered brass on “Push Come To Shove” is … Read More
By George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly This is about the third album I’ve heard by trumpeter Derrick Gardner, and like the others, it just makes me want to see him bring a tour to LA. I doubt he’ll be able to afford a trip out here with this band, as it’s a big one, a … Read More
By Tom Henry, The Blade Trumpeter Derrick Gardner’s large jazz orchestra produces a big and formidable sound with a nod to social consciousness on this album. Read the full review here.
DownBeat Magazine The November 2020 Issue of DownBeat magazine includes reviews of Miki Yamanaka’s Human Dust Suite, Teodross Avery’s Harlem Stories: The Music Of Thelonious Monk, Geof Bradfield’s General Semantics, Derrick Gardner & The Big dig! Band’s Still I Rise, John Minnock’s Herring Cove, and a feature story on Lakecia Benjamin. Read the issue out now.
By Brenda Nelson-Strauss, Black Grooves Trumpeter Derrick Gardner has gathered together friends and family to form a new ensemble that makes its debut on his latest release, Still I Rise. Read this full review here.
By David Whiteis, JazzTimes Trumpeter Derrick Gardner is an alumnus of the 1990s-era, Frank Foster-led Count Basie Orchestra—a connection that’s immediately evident in the voicings and blends he has devised for his Big dig! Band, as well as in his tireless dedication to swing. Read This Full review here.
By Ted Parkinson, The WholeNote Derrick Gardner’s musical journey began in Chicago, where both his parents were musicians and educators, moved to New York for more study, then around the world as he played in the Count Basie Orchestra and other groups. Read this full review here.
By Darryl Yokley, Occhi Magazine On the release of his latest CD ‘Still I Rise’, Occhi Magazine caught up with Derrick Gardner to discuss the project. The interview with Darryl Yokley was recorded remotely during the COVID lockdown. Check this full interview here.
By Jonathan Blackman, Occhi Magazine Derrick Gardner is back with the Big dig! Band and their premiere release, Still I Rise. Read this review here.
