Rachel Maby is a lyric mezzo-soprano and vocal animateur who specialises in opera and classical chamber music. She has a particular affinity with vocal improvisation and has premièred multiple compositions which cross classical and jazz vocal disciplines. 

She holds a Distinction Masters of Music degree in classical vocal performance from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and completed her undergraduate studies on the prestigious Joint Course at the Royal Northern College of Music and University of Manchester. 
 
Rachel has premièred six new operas by British composers, which includes Charlotte in The Weekend by Scott Stroman (Bloomsbury Theatre première in September 2021); Mrs Cratchit in the London première of A Christmas Carol by Thea Musgrave (Laban Theatre, 2018) and five opera-ballets by Leo Geyer - Mrs Hickling in BrickRow (Constella OperaBallet Spin a Tale festival); Delilah and Palm Reader in Sideshows (Tête à Tête, Lillian Bayliss Studio, BBC Radio 3 In Tune, Grimeborn Opera Festival); Charlotte in Glasstown (Helios Collective, Arts Theatre); Susan in Canary Boys (National Coal Mining Museum) and Blackbird in Orchestras of Aushwitz (Sadler’s Wells).

 Rachel has also performed a variety of opera roles from baroque to twentieth century works with opera companies such as Blackheath Opera, Constella OperaBallet, Highbury Opera Theatre and Baseless Fabric Theatre. Roles to date includes Prince Oreste in La Belle Hélène by Offenbach (Blackheath Opera, 2019); Lucretia in The Rape of Lucretia by Britten (Stratford Circus, 2018); Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro ENO translation (Martin Harris Centre, 2014); JouJou in The Merry Widow by Léhar (Royal Northern College of Music Theatre, 2014); Cupid in Venus and Adonis by Bowe (Martin Harris Centre, 2013). Opera scenes roles include Octavian in Act III of Rosenkavalier by Strauss (2019); Third Maid in Act I of Elektra by Strauss (2018); Enfant in Act I of L’enfant et les sortlièges by Ravel (2017).

Rachel has vast experience performing contemporary classical chamber music and has premièred seven works by British composers, which include London Portraits by Leo Geyer (Old Royal Naval College Chapel, 2019); Sea Garden by Leo Geyer(Chelsea Flower Show, 2018); Songs for a Dying World by Ed Nesbit (Royal College of Music, 2018); The Lost Medusa of Leonardo da Vinci by Camden Reeves (Lancaster Jazz Festival, 2015); Star Songs by Jonathan Woolgar (The Forge, 2015); Fear no more by Tom Harrold (Shakespeare Festival, 2014) and Sunset in Grey by Leo Geyer (Lancaster Jazz Festival, 2014).

As a concert soloist, Rachel has a particular love of French orchestral works and has performed the Lakmé flower duet with Nottingham Philharmonic Orchestra (c: Mark Heron); Cinq Melodies Populaires Grecques by Ravel with Settle Orchestra (c: Leo Geyer) and soloist in Requiem by Duruflé with Queens Park Singers in 2020 Brandenburg Choral Festival (c: Oliver Till). Other solo concert performances include Second Soprano Soloist in Dixit Dominus by Handel with Genesis Sixteen and Badinerie (c: Harry Christophers); Soloist in Wimbledon Symphony Orchestra family concerts 2015 and 2017 (c: Leo Geyer) and Feel the Spirit by John Rutter with Salford Choral Society (c: Justin Doyle).
 
Rachel is a vocal animateur for Welsh National Opera, leading opera projects with children and adults in a variety of settings, from schools to refugee centres. She also works as a choral conductor for High Holborn Chamber Choir, Christ Church Jazz Choir and Music Education Islington. She has delivered and performer in outreach programmess on behalf of Spitalfields Music, The Orchestra of St John’s, Constella OperaBallet, Baseless Fabric Theatre and HighburyOperaTheatre.

Audio treats from the team behind BBC Radio 3's Jazz on 3.

Weekly Liverpool jazz night PARRJAZZ happens every Tuesday at Studio2, Parr Street. See the website for details of weekly special guests!

All tracks feature as house band: Geni Lamb (sax/flute), Tony Ormesher (guitar), John McCormick (bass) and Danny Ward (drums) unless stated otherwise.

Kieran McLeod – Trombonist

Kieran McLeod is an award winning jazz trombonist and composer from Aberdeen. He is a current member of the Jullian Argüelles Septet, Iain Ballamy’s Anorak XL and the Keith Tippett Octet. Since moving to London, Kieran has graduated from the Royal Academy of Music’s Jazz course and has performed with artists of international fame such as Snarky Puppy, BBC Big Band, Ken Peplowski and Stan Suzmann. As a bandleader, Kieran is regularly touring the UK with his sextet, ‘New World’ and his 30 piece Big Band, ‘Human Resource System’ who have been described as “possibly THE top band of rising talent on the London scene”. Kieran has recently been touring festivals in Cuba with Nomad Collective and across Europe with both Riot Jazz and Young Pilgrims.

www.kieranmcleod.co.uk
www.facebook.com/HumanResourceSystem
https://soundcloud.com/kieranmcleod/sets
https://twitter.com/kieransmcleod

— Quotes —

"young trombonist who is really saying something" - Dave Liebman

"trombones are not supposed to be able to do that” - Iain Ballamy

“possibly THE top band of rising talent on the London scene” - Seb Scotney, London Jazz News on Human Resource System
http://www.londonjazznews.com/2013/05/preview-move-indoors-makes-this-one-of.html

“Trombonist Kieran McLeod produced an improvisation of almost stoic effervescence” - Rob Adams, Jazz in Europe
http://jazzineurope.mfmmedia.nl/the-scottish-national-jazz-orchestra-with-dave-liebman/

“Kieran McLeod's funky trombone”  - Rob Adams, The Herald

— Awards —

Winner Don Lusher Solo Trombone Award - British Trombone Society 2012
Nominee, Trombone Category - British Jazz Awards 2013
I am a trombonist, last year I won the Don Lusher Award and graduated from the Royal Academy of Music Jazz Course.

Producing as Dubble D, Moodymanc, Balaphonic and Vault amongst others...and of course as a part of 2020 soundsystem...For DJ bookings and re-mix enquiries please hit me at danny@dubbled.com
Product of a mis-spent mancunian youth!!!
....with the greatest respect for, and hopefully in the timeless tradition of what I love as 'house music'.... Reaching back to 88 when I first heard and experienced it in the clubs and underground parties of my native manchester, and looking forward to the future....it's more vibrant and relevant than ever!!!
 Strictly political, proud to be underground,trying to be true to my roots, tell my story as a jazz musician, crate digger and dj, pay my dues and spread the love.... This is house music....always more about 'us' than 'me'....it's not about popstars, it's about dancefloors.....humanity sharing positive energy TOGETHER.... as simple and yet as deep as it gets.....and subversive as fuck!
 C'mon!!!!!


MCR Jazz Collective is following