Gerard Presencer

Presencer showed his first interest in what was to become his chosen instrument, the trumpet, at nine. He attributes his early determination to become a trumpeter to hearing Roy Eldridge's solo from a Jazz at the Philharmonic concert. He has cited Dizzy Gillespie, Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard, Kenny Wheeler, Woody Shaw, and Clifford Brown as early influences.[1]

When he was eleven, he became the youngest trumpeter with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra. At the age of 18, he began playing with pianist Stan Tracey, in his big band, octet, septet, and in duo, playing a live concert at London's Queen Elizabeth Hall, later released on Blue Note Records.

Presencer worked with British musicians Peter King, John Dankworth, John Taylor, Ronnie Scott, Norma Winstone, and Mike Gibbs, as well as with international musicians, including Johnny Griffin, Chris Potter, Mark Turner, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Randy Brecker, Red Rodney, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, John Abercrombie, and Bob Berg.[2] He is a member of Charlie Watts' various jazz groups, with which he has recorded five albums, and was a featured soloist on US3's Cantaloop, Blue Note's biggest-selling album of the 1990s. He has also released albums as a band leader.

In January 2010, Presencer was as a soloist with the Danish Radio Big Band for the opening of the Danish National Concert Hall. Later the same year he became a regular member of the big band and moved to Copenhagen.[3]

Presencer has collaborated frequently with contemporary classical music composer Siobhan Lamb as an improvising soloist. Two albums were released in 2012 by the Naxos label Proprius: Meditations and The Nightingale and the Rose.

As a session musician, he has recorded with Sting, Jamiroquai, Zero 7, James Brown, Ray Charles, Joni Mitchell, and Jonny Greenwood.[2]

He is the featured soloist on the 2011 BAFTA Award-winning score for the computer game L.A. Noire, which features Mark Turner, John Taylor, David Freidman, Jeff Ballard, and Larry Grenadier.

Presencer was the Head of the Jazz Department at the Royal Academy of Music from 1999 until 2010 and was Head of the Brass Department at The Jazz Institute, Berlin from 1999-2016. He has given workshops in European jazz conservatories (including Amsterdam, Helsinki and Copenhagen).

In 2015, his book about the technical requirements of trumpet playing in improvised music was released by Warwick Music.

As leader/co-leader

• 1998: Platypus (Linn)
• 2000: The Optimist (Linn)
• 2002: Chasing Reality (ACT)
• 2016: Groove Travels (Edition), feat. Danish Radio Big Band

As sideman

• 1991: Charly Antolini Jazz Power – Recorded at the BBC Studio London (1991) Charly Antolini, with Dick Morrissey, Len Skeat, Brian Lemon
• 1992: Innocence — Joe Gallivan (Cadence)
• 1993: Hand On The Torch — US3 (Blue Note)
• 1993: Front Row — Pressure Drop (Marlboro/IDE)
• 1993: Super Mario Bros. (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) — Various Artists (Capitol)
• 1993: Live at the QEH — Stan Tracy (Blue Note)
• 1994: Sailing — Dick de Graaf (Challenge)
• 1994: Brother Sister — Brand New Heavies (Delicious Vinyl)
• 1995: For Heaven's Sake — The New Stan Tracey Quartet (Cadillac)
• 1995: 100 Degrees And Rising — Incognito (Verve)
• 1995: Alternative — Pet Shop Boys (Parlophone)
• 1995: In The Hand Of The Inevitable — The James Taylor Quartet (Acid Jazz)
• 1995: Get Shorty (Original MGM Motion Picture Soundtrack) — Various Artists (Antilles)
• 1995: Gran Via — Matt Bianco (AMC)
• 1995: The Finest Collection Of Workshy — Workshy (Pony Canyon)
• 1996: Long Ago & Far Away — Charlie Watts (Virgin)
• 1997: Shelter — Brand New Heavies (Delicious Vinyl)
• 1998: Celebrating Grappelli — Stephane Grappelli (Linn)
• 1998: Make This City Ours — Claire Martin (Linn)
• 1998: Eyes Don't Lie — Truce (Big Life)
• 1999: Flip Fantasia: Hits & Remixes — US3 (Blue Note)
• 2000: Originations — Chick Corea (Stretch)
• 2000: Both Sides Now — Joni Mitchell (Reprise)
• 2000: Rise — Gabrielle (Universal)
• 2000: Trunk Funk Classics 1991-2000 — Brand New Heavies (Delicious Viny)
• 2000: Duke – The Durham Connection: A Selection from the Sacred Concerts — The Stan Tracey Orchestra (33 Jazz)
• 2000: Made by Walking — Tim Garland (Stretch)
• 2001: Very/Further Listening 1992-1994 — Pet Shop Boys (Parlophone)
• 2001: Dreams – Tony Coe, Gerard Presencer, Brian Lemon & Dave Green (Zephyr)[4]
• 2003: Food of Love — Pressure Drop (One Eye)
• 2003: Is You Is — Micatone (Sonar Kollektiv)
• 2003: Bar Lounge Classics Summer Edition — Various Artists (Sony
• 2003: Vintage Chill Vol. 3: Autumn — Various Artists (Kriztal)
• 2003: 4 Walls of Freedom — Joe Locke (Sirocco Jazz)
• 2004: The Groove Lounge³ — Various Artists (EMI)
• 2004: When It Falls — Zero 7 (Elektra)
• 2004: Dreamland — Joni Mitchell (Asylum/Reprise)
• 2004: Watts At Scott's — Charlie Watts & The Tentet (Sanctuary Black Box)
• 2005: The Best Of — Martin Taylor (P3)
• 2005: Best Smooth Jazz... Ever! — Various Artists (Liberty)
• 2008: A Cool & Danceable Adventure — Auratones (Challenge)
• 2008: Love Walked In – Tony Coe, Gerard Presencer, Brian Lemon & Dave Green (Zephyr)[5]
• 2010: Monday Night Big Band & Anders Larson feat. Gerard Presencer[6]

• Ian Carr, Digby Fairweather, & Brian Priestley. Jazz: The Rough Guide. ISBN 1-85828-528-3
• Richard Cook & Brian Morton. The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD 6th edition. ISBN 0-14-051521-6
• Gerard Presencer — discography from AllMusic
• Gerard Presencer — Linn records page
• Gerard Presencer presents online course — Internal Approach to Playing the Trumpet