Prof. Gerard Presencer

Prof. Gerard Presencer was born in London in 1972. At the age of 11 he became a member of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra. At the age of 15 he made his recording debut with the alto Peter King. Gerard Presencer has performed with many famous jazz musicians - Stan Tracey, John Dankworth, Cleo Laine, Red Rodney, Johnny Griffin, Phil Woods, Jason Rebello and Courtney Pine. In the past eight years he played in the Charlie Watts Quintet, with whom he recorded four albums and whom he accompanied on their world tour. Their fifth CD was completed in spring, 1999. He has also worked with James Browne, Sting, Brand New Heavies, Ray Charles, Kula Shaker, Tina Turner and the Pet Shop Boys. Furthermore he performed as a soloist in U.S.3's 'Cantaloop', which is published by Blue Note Records. Currently he works with his band Platypus. In 1995 and 1997 Gerard Presencer was voted best trumpeter at the BT Jazz Awards. Gerard Presencer has taught at the Royal Academy of Music, the Guildhall School, Trinity School of Music, Surrey University and Thames Valley University, where he developed a three-year graduate course. In the summer semester of 1999, Gerard Presencer was appointed Professor of Trumpet in the Jazz and Popular Music department at the the Academy of Music "Hanns Eisler" Berlin.