December 2024 - Manchester Jazz Festival

1) Can you introduce yourself & your work to our audiences?

My names Rory A. Green, I’m a contemporary guitarist, improviser and composer based in Manchester. A lot of my music is centred around sharing stories, either from my own personal experiences or around thoughts, feelings and emotions that are perhaps more shared experiences. I take a lot of infulence from both my European and African heritage (English / Ghanaian). Sonically my music maybe sits around artists ranging from Danish guitarist Jakob Bro, Jasmine Myra and folk artists such as Daudi Matsiko.

2.) Was it fate / destiny to become a musician? & more specifically a jazz musician? Can you remember that first concert, record or experience that introduced you to jazz?

I think it was? But I also think it wasn’t at the same time! I never had the biggest in music as a kid, I went through flute and cornet before settling on guitar but even then I didn’t enjoy it – My guitar lessons at school meant I didn’t have a break and at the age of nine I was more concerned with digging up worms than scales! In my mid to late teens I started to really connect with the guitar. I didn’t just enjoy playing it but I had developed a deeper emotional connection with music as a whole. Discovering jazz was a very long journey for me. I grew up mostly in the Leigh / wigan area and I struggled to find music I was seriously into and also people to help guide me with this but at the time. It wasn’t until I was in college studying music where my teacher Frank Beaver introduced me to Stuart McCallum’s music where I properly discovered not only jazz but a type of music where self expression and individuality was vital.

3.) You’ve been involved in mjf from hothouse to performing at the festival. Could you speak a little about your time on our talent development programme, how you started your journey with mjf & how it helped you to break through to that next level?

The hothouse programme was a very instrumental part to my development as a musician. It was the first time I’d ever been able to really focus on my craft, develop my skills as a composer, guitarist and work on my musicianship as a whole. Being able to have Stuart McCallum as my mentor as well was a very eye opening experience and helped my realise where I wanted to take my music but also cemented the idea of pursuing music as my full time career. The help from mjf as a whole has helped take my career to new heights, the faith and support that I’ve had over the years has helped me to keep progressing

4.) It’s been nothing short of incredible watching your career develop from touring with GoGo Penguin to opening for Laura Misch at mjf 2024 & now a TikTok Rising Star. What’s been your career highlight so far? & what’s next on the horizon?

I’ve been so proud of everything I’ve accomplished so far! Supporting Laura Misch was incredible and joining GoGo Penguin on the road whilst playing for Nina Cobham was a time I won’t forget! Gaining attention from Fender Guitars and Guitar World Magazine was also a dream come true! My biggest plan now is to get some new music out for 2025…

5.) Any spoilers you can give for the new imminent single release?

I don’t want to give too much away but I can say that it’ll released on the 30th of January with a special event on the 29th at Band on The Wall!

6.) What would be your dream headliner for mjf2025 & our 30th festival?

My dream headliner would be Jakob Bro! His music is just so full of emotion and character! Especially his playing in his quartet with Thomas Morgan, Palle Mikkelborg and Jon Christensen.

Catch Rory performing at Band on the Wall, 29th January. This will be shortly followed by Rory’s hotly anticipated & newest single release on the 30th January. Click the link here to book tickets to Rory’s gig at Band on the Wall.

Rory is an alumni of our talent development programe, hothouse. It is with special thanks to our friends and their ongoing support that we are able to help up and coming contemporary jazz artists such as Rory to transform and take their practise to the next level. Click here to learn how you could also support mjf and its artists.