Nicole M. Mitchell is an award-winning American creative flutist, composer, bandleader and educator. She is perhaps best known for her work as a flutist, having developed a unique improvisational language and having been repeatedly awarded “Top Flutist of the Year” by Downbeat Magazine Critics Poll and the Jazz Journalists Association (2010-2022). Mitchell initially emerged from Chicago’s innovative music scene in the late 90s. She started with Maia and Shanta Nurullah in Samana (the AACM's first all-woman ensemble) and as a member of the David Boykin EXPANSE. Her music celebrates contemporary African American culture. She is the founder of Black Earth Ensemble, Black Earth Strings, Sonic Projections and Ice Crystal.
Neil Charles is one of the most in-demand bass players and musicians on the scene, with a huge array of credits to his name, including Jack DeJohnette, the Sun Ra Arkestra, Mingus Big Band, Jose James, Jerry Dammers, Courtney Pine, and Terence Blanchard. His own projects have included Zed U, with Shabaka Hutchings and Tom Skinner, and the more recent ensemble Dark Days, dealing with the work of James Baldwin. Most recently, he has been heard across the international scene with Gabriels. As well as being known as a bass player with a huge sound and immaculate sense of time, he is equally renowned as a producer, going by the alias Ben Marc.
Mark Sanders a renowned drummer /percussionist of British-Belizean heritage, has been at the forefront of improvised music worldwide for the last 30–40 years. Known for his unique playing style in the fields of Free Jazz and Free Improvisation, as well as skills and versatility in other genres, he has worked with an impressively broad range of artists. He has performed with a host of renowned improvising musicians including Roscoe Mitchell, Wadada Leo Smith, Joelle Leandre, Roswell Rudd, Myra Melford, Henry Grimes, Sylvie Courvoisier, Charles Gayle, John Butcher and Evan Parker.
Mark is a PAUL HAMLYN FOUNDATION Artist Award holder.
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DERBY JAZZ is a not for profit organization which supports and develops jazz in and around Derby. It's been continuously active since 1982 and became a Limited Company (No. 4946215) in 2003.
