Derrick Gardner

Who is Derrick Gardner?

Derrick Gardner is an American jazz trumpeter from Chicago, Illinois.

Gardner began playing trumpet at the age of 9 in his hometown of Chicago, IL. Throughout high school and college, he was recognized by instructors as having “strong improvisational skills and a marvelous imagination.” In 1991, he moved to New York City and quickly began to make his mark on the local jazz scene, playing ith groups such as the Count Basie Orchestra, Frank Foster's Loud Minority Band, Harry Connick, Jr.'s Big Band, Roman Schwaller's European Sextet, and The Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra.

Gardner has gone on to work with such jazz notables as the late Dizzy Gillespie, George Benson, Jon Faddis, Nancy Wilson, Tony Bennett, Joe Williams, Rufus Reid, Clark Terry, Kenny Barron, Stefon Harris and James Moody.

Critics have described him as "having a way of moving past the notes in a solo and getting into formal realms that make sense and heighten interest." Another critic describes him as "Soulful and Intelligent, a tremendous talent with a vivid and unusual imagination."

As a composer and arranger, Gardner's music has been featured with The Count Basie Orchestra.