RORY MANN

Rory Mann is an award winning, highly proficient guitarist, composer and educator based in London. He has made a name for himself around the UK playing in a number of different settings, bands and projects. His debut EP ‘The Way Out’, featuring Saul Duff on tenor saxophone, Joe Wilkes on bass and Oli Reeves on drums, was recorded in Leeds and released in December 2022. The EP features four of Rory’s cutting edge, unique compositions developed over his years living in Leeds.

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Taking inspiration from artists such as Kurt Rosenwinkel, Pink Floyd, John Coltrane, Kenny Wheeler, Brian Blade and many more, Rory has quickly gained a reputation as one of the most original sounding and technically proficient young jazz guitarists in the UK. Rory graduated with first class honours from Leeds College of Music’s jazz programme in 2019 and went on to be a central part of Leeds’ music scene; being one of the most in demand guitarists in the north of England for any style of music. In 2022, Rory was awarded a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music in London on the Jazz Postgraduate programme. There he studied under the pupillage of Chris Montague, Mike Walker, John Parricelli, Femi Temowo, Orlando Le Fleming and many other high profile UK jazz musicians. He graduated from the Royal Academy with distinction in 2024, and remained in London.

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Known for not only his distinctive language, grasp of the jazz tradition, imaginative compositions and swift technical facility, he is also admired for his versatility when playing in more commercial situations. Rory is already establishing himself on the London jazz scene and looks to take on the city with his captivating writing and playing both as a band leader and sideman.

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Rory leads his own groups performing his energetic, intense and captivating original compositions, as well as reinvented standards from the jazz canon and contemporary repertoire from musicians from around the world. Rory also performs extensively as a sideman. Throughout his career so far, he has performed alongside Kit Downes, Gareth Lockrane, Nathaniel Facey, Josephine Davies, Mark Lockheart, Baptiste Herbin, Julian Arguelles, Matt Anderson and Steve Fishwick, and has supported Jason Rebello, Tim Garland, Ari Hoenig, Tony Woods and Laura Jurd.

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Rory is also highly in demand in the worlds of popular music and musical theatre. Rory has performed extensively as a musician in countless shows including Rent, Jesus Christ Superstar, Oklahoma, Hairspray, We Will Rock You and many more. He has also performed on many touring shows including Katie Markham’s ‘Someone Like You – A Tribute to Adele’ and ‘Liza Pulman Sings Streisand’.