About

musessence performs music from the Great American Songbook including tunes made famous by the likes of Anita O’Day, Benny Goodman, Ella Fitzgerald, Chet Baker, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington as well as a selection of stunning originals.

Leading the band is Andy Derrick who is fast becoming one of Britain’s most popular trombonists with a hard swinging sound tempered with a tender ballad style. Andy has been a member of bands led by Alan Barnes and Dennis Rollins as well as being an experienced leader of small groups and big bands. As an in-demand big band performer Andy has worked with some of the world’s finest including Joe Lovano, Toots Thielmans, Mark Nightingale and Bobby Shew.

Co-leading with Andy is Mike Kemp on piano. Mike’s career as a pianist reads like a who’s who in the best of British jazz having been a member of Terry Lightfoot’s band, the Pete Allen Jazz Band, the Pasadena Roof Orchestra and the wonderful Bob Kerr Whoopee Band.

Andy and Mike met as members of the Sticky Wicket band and have formed this quartet to continue their exploration of swinging jazz tunes and meeting fans of great music everywhere.