The Derek Nash Funk Experience is the unleashing opportunity for top UK saxophonist Derek Nash to play the funk and groove hits that have influenced him throughout his career.

Derek has been a full-time member of the Jools Holland R&B Orchestra since 2004 resulting in appearances with many music icons that have influenced the world from Amy Winehouse and Adele to Tom Jones and Paul McCartney. Derek has also appeared alongside soul legends Sam Moore, Martha Reeves, Ronnie Spector, Chaka Khan, Charlie Wilson (The Gap Band) and Soloman Burke and he’s also shared a stage with instrumental giants David Sanborn, Eric Clapton, and Jeff Beck.

The Funk Experience draws from a back catalogue of hits by Bill Withers, The Crusaders, The Average White Band, David Sanborn, Grover Washington Jnr, Herbie Hancock, the JBs, and Stevie Wonder to perform crowd-pleasing, spirit-lifting funk tunes thus creating a night of foot-tapping, hand-clapping good times!

The members of the band have provided musical services to a “who’s who” of stars including David Gilmour, Bee Gees, Jethro Tull, Gary Moore, Massive Attack, Nile Rogers, Joss Stone, Chaka Khan, Bill Withers and many more.

Derek has also performed with influential jazz artists Dave and Don Grusin, Nelson Rangell, Ernie Watts, Russell Ferrante, and Brian Culbertson. He’s a member of the Ronnie Scott’s Blues Explosion, resident at the world-famous club since 2009, and performed with the Jack Bruce Big Blues Band for six years.

He has won British Jazz Awards for his eight-piece jazz ensemble, Sax Appeal, and has released six albums with them.

His own solo/quartet CDs have twice won CD of the Year in the British Jazz Awards in 2002 and 2012.

Thirty years of writing, arranging, and performing have led to Derek’s mastery of funk/blues and groove, and the Funk Experience is a world-class band honouring the giants of the genre.