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"Your art is your reflection of the times" ~ Professor Derrick Gardner.

The NEW ALBUM 'Compared To What' will release in October of 2016 after several years in the making.

A pre-release track in light of the atrocity of recent deaths...Derrick Gardner & the Jazz Prophet's final piece on their new album 'ROLL CALL!!' is a deep reflection on victims of injustice. Featuring dialogue and discussion among fellow musicians, friends and colleagues...it chronicles instances of brutality and the names of victims along-side clips of the 'Compared To What' title track. As a final reflection, Derrick Gardner speaks at the end of 'ROLL CALL!!' calling us all to be members of the 'Human Tribe'.

About 'Compared To What':

A Straight Ahead Jazz Collection, 'Compared To What' is above all a brilliantly composed and recorded album full of musical power and prowess from the award winning band 'Derrick Gardner & the Jazz Prophets'.

The Jazz Prophets top-flight line-up includes: Derrick Gardner - trumpet, Vincent Gardner - trombone, Rob Dixon - saxophones, Donald Edwards - drums, Gerald Cannon - Bass, Anthony Wonsey - piano, and Miles Griffith - vocals.

The new album's title track, 'Compared To What'', features a modern remake of the famous Eugene McDaniels tune of the same name. Recorded 50 years ago by Les McCann on his album 'Les McCann Plays the Hits' - released again as a live recording from the Montreax Jazz Festival by McCann on 'Swiss Movement' in 1969 that sold over a million copies - it is a poignant remake that is unabashedly focused on Police Brutality with new lyrics sung by Miles Griffith.

Gardner's modern-day version of 'Compared To What', and its message of frustration and discontent with race relations and police brutality, is in the tradition of Jazz musicians who express themselves through their artistry. Tunes such as John Coltrane's 'Alabama', Herbie Hancock's 'I Have A Dream', Charles Mingus's 'Fables of Faubus' and Max Roach's 'The Freedom Now Suite'.

A masterful musician, innovative creator, meaningful educator, respectable gentleman ... and concerned Black man ... Mr Gardner hopes his new work contributes to the growing (continuing) conversation with class, dignity and musical excellence through Jazz.

Visit www.derrickgardnermusic.com