Impact Music Inc

17/03/2025

The Melting Pot- (Freddie Hubbard) As recorded by Derrick Gardner & The Jazz Prophets +2 on the Owl Studios release “Echoes of Ethnicity” (OWL00129), this is an arrangement on one of Freddie Hubbard’s more obscure compositions but one of my personal favorites. The solo sections for Trumpet, Trombone and Tenor Saxophone are complete with background figures. Piano solo is unaccompanied and leads into a very rhythmic ensemble shout section to end the arrangement.

(Freddie Hubbard) As recorded by Derrick Gardner & The Jazz Prophets +2 on the Owl Studios release “Echoes of Ethnicity” (OWL00129), this is an arrangement on one of Freddie Hubbard’s more obscure compositions but one of my personal favorites. The solo sections for Trumpet, Trombone and Tenor ...

12/02/2025

Still I Rise: Derrick Gardner & The Big dig! Band
“Derrick Gardner’s Big dig! Band is a classic jazz orchestra: spectacular sax, trombone, and trumpet sections studded with world-class musicians, and a rock-solid rhythm section to anchor all those flights of fancy. This band has weight, polish, sparkle, and drive. It swings without an ounce of apology, and at the same time feels current and fresh.”
https://derrickgardner.bandcamp.com/releases

06/02/2025

Tomorrow!! Northwestern University Jazz Orchestra, directed by Derrick Gardner, celebrates Black History Month!

You’ll hear two new Derrick Gardner arrangements of the spirituals “Ezekiel Saw de Wheel”and “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child” adapted to 17-piece jazz orchestra.

Streaming live on Thursday, February 6, 2025 at 7:30pm CST. See the link below.

https://www.music.northwestern.edu/live/galvin

05/02/2025

“Derrick Gardner’s Big dig! Band is a classic jazz orchestra: spectacular sax, trombone, and trumpet sections studded with world-class musicians, and a rock-solid rhythm section to anchor all those flights of fancy. This band has weight, polish, sparkle, and drive. It swings without an ounce of apology, and at the same time feels current and fresh.”
https://stillirisealbum.com/

15/01/2025

Original arrangements for The Big dig! Band‘s debut release are available for purchase now!
https://impactmusicinc.com/product-tag/big-dig-band/

29/11/2024

Natural Woman
(Carol King) As recorded by Derrick Gardner & The Jazz Prophets +2 on the Owl Studios release “Echoes of Ethnicity” (OWL00129), this is an arrangement of the Aretha Franklin hit from 1967. The chord progressions have been reharmonized and the feel of the tune departs from it’s original 12/8 gospel feel into a slow 4/4 durge-like feel. The soloists are Piano and Trumpet.
https://impactmusicinc.com/product/natural-woman/

28/11/2024

23/11/2024

If you’re in he Chicago area tomorrow night (Sunday, Nov. 24th) and looking for a unique and entertaining musical experience, you are welcome to attend the Heritage/Evolution concert at Galvin Recital Hall, Northwestern University Bienen School of Music at 7:30pm. This is the first ever collaboration between the Northwestern University’s Jazz Studies program and Classical Saxophone Studio, featuring music by Miguel Zenón, Melissa Aldana, Chris Potter, John Coltrane and also a saxophone big band rendition of Billy Strayhorn’s “Lush Life,” as arranged by Frank Foster.

Yes this isn’t a typo!! It’s a 16-piece Saxophone Big Band with rhythm section; trumpets replaced by 4 soprano saxes, 3 tenors, bari and bass saxophones replacing the trombones (the “Saxobones!!”) and standard sax section down front….DIG THAT!!

04/11/2024

Natural Woman: As recorded by Derrick Gardner & The Jazz Prophets +2 on the Owl Studios release “Echoes of Ethnicity” (OWL00129), this is an arrangement of the Aretha Franklin hit from 1967. The chord progressions have been reharmonized and the feel of the tune departs from it’s original 12/8 gospel feel into a slow 4/4 durge-like feel. The soloists are Piano and Trumpet.

(Carol King) As recorded by Derrick Gardner & The Jazz Prophets +2 on the Owl Studios release “Echoes of Ethnicity” (OWL00129), this is an arrangement of the Aretha Franklin hit from 1967. The chord progressions have been reharmonized and the feel of the tune departs from it’s original 12/8 go...

25/09/2024

DAAAYUUUM -
This is an original composition and arrangement recorded by Derrick Gardner & The BIG dig! BAND on the 2020 Impact Jazz release “Still I Rise.” It’s a slow blues (quarter note = 60) that features a 5-member trumpet section. The arrangement opens with the melody in muted trumpet followed by a one chorus muted trumpet solo, then the section trades fours. Variances of the melody are used throughout the arrangement as background figures for the solos. The arrangement features an explosive shout section with room for a “screech” trumpet solo. Solos: Trumpet section, 1st Alto Saxophone.

*Trumpet Section feature This is an original composition and arrangement recorded by Derrick Gardner & The BIG dig! BAND on the 2020 Impact Jazz release “Still I Rise.” It’s a slow blues (quarter note = 60) that features a 5-member trumpet section. The arrangement opens with the melody in mute...

17/09/2024

Tune in tonight, 7pm EST!!
https://www.facebook.com/sorcradio?mibextid=LQQJ4d

05/08/2024

Funky Straight - As recorded by Derrick Gardner & The Jazz Prophets on the Owl Studios release “A Ride To The Other Side” (OWL00121). This original composition has a funky straight eighth feel in the same manner as my composition “Slim Goodie” (from my Impact jazz release of the same name), Miles Davis’ “Eighty One” or Herbie Hancock’s “Blind Man, Blind Man.” The solo section is open.
https://impactmusicinc.com/product/funky-straight/