Kent saxophonist Derek Nash plays all around the world with some of the finest musicians.

The Bexley musician can turn his hand to any genre and has been with Jools Holland’s Rhythm and Blue Orchestra for 12 years after being recommended by fellow musicians.

His gig at the Anchorians Jazz Club this week is the first of the 2016 season at the Gillingham venue. It will feature two members of the Jools Holland Rhythm and Blues Orchestra: Derek and Dave Swift on bass, who has been with Jools Holland for more than 10 years and has played with many top names including George Benson, Eric Clapton and Paul Weller.

Noel McCalla on vocals is well known in the jazz and rock world and was a member of Manfred Mann’s Earth Band. More recently, he has been involved with the Dave Lewis 1 Up Band.

I’ve been playing the saxophone forever...

My father was a professional musician too, he was a pianist with the BBC Northern Dance Orchestra. I was playing gigs with my dad’s band by the age of 12.

I didn’t go to music college. I studied acoustics instead...

I used to be a BBC sound engineer. Now I run a recording studio (Clowns Pocket Recording Studio in Bexley) which came out of that, it’s kind of my day job I suppose. Because I’m a musician too I know what the musicians in the studio are talking about. I recorded Jamie Cullum’s album Pointless Nostalgic.

I have several bands and groups I play with...

I’ve got Sax Appeal which I’ve had for 35 years and Protect the Beat, a funk and groove band which has been going for 10 years. I’ve also got the acoustic quartet and the Latin band. I also do gigs on my own and I guest with others. I love the variety. Sometimes I go along and I don’t know what we’ll be playing. There’s usually a half hour conversation before the gig when we work out what we can do together. It always works and it’s always fun.

I don’t have a favourite type of music...

That’s why I have so many different bands. Each band has a completely different set of musicians. The Latin gigs are always fun to do and it goes down really well with the audience. It means I get to work with different bands with different musicians’ personalities. What I enjoy is the variety.

I’ve been playing with Jools Holland for 12 years...

I used to work with him as a sound engineer on Later with Jools Holland. I used to think “I can do this gig; I’d enjoy this”. And now I am!

Jools is great to work with...

He’s a local boy and a deputy lieutenant of Kent, you know. They’re a wonderful team to play with and there’s always an incredibly enthusiastic response from the audience. Most gigs are sold out really quickly.

I’m looking forward to the Gillingham gig this weekend (at Anchorians Rugby Club)...

Noel McCalla’s on vocals and I really love his singing. He is a kind of soul singer like Stevie Wonder and Al Jarreau. There will be two of us from Jools’ orchestra. There would’ve been three but I know the other one has to go to his wife’s graduation, so won’t be working that night on pain of death!

GIG DETAILS

Derek Nash will be playing at the Anchorians Rugby Club, Darland Avenue, Gillingham on Friday, March 18, at 8.30pm. The Derek Nash Experience features Derek on saxophones, Noel McCalla vocals, Graham Harvey piano, Nic France drums and Dave Swift on bass. Tickets £10. For details call 01634 365352 or 07544 312743.

Derek will also be at Giacomo’s in Morleys Road, Sevenoaks Weald, on Wednesday, March 23, at 7.30pm. For details call 01732 746200 or visit giacomos.uk.com After that Derek heads to the Charlotte in Station Road, Crayford, on Thursday, March 24, at 9pm. For details visit thecharlottepun.org.uk

He will also be appearing with Jools Holland’s Rhythm and Blue Orchestra at three dates in Kent this year. They will be at the Orchard Theatre, Dartford on Wednesday, May 4. For tickets call 01322 220000 or visit orchardtheatre.co.uk. On Thursday, May 5, they will be at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury. For details visit marlowetheatre.co.uk or call 01227 787787, and then at Margate Winter Gardens on Friday, May 29. For details visit margatewintergardens.co.uk or call 01843 292795.