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Rachel is an exceptionally talented jazz and session flute player whose performances impress audiences with their virtuosity and natural musicianship.
Primarily a jazz flautist, Rachel specialises in the gypsy jazz music of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli. The flute gives an unusual twist to the hot-club sound. As well as performing with her own band, Rachel can often be seen depping with other North-West gypsy jazz groups such as Swingology and Toe Rag.
A classically trained flute player, Rachel studied musical performance at the University of Leeds. After a number of years performing with amateur orchestras, Rachel joined the jazz scene, playing with gypsy jazz band Trez Fez. It was there that she found her niche, improvising and playing largely by ear.
Rachel’s premise is that she can fit the flute with any style of music. Recent projects have involved performing with Liverpool based
band Amsterdam, front-lined by Ian Prowse, formerly of Pele. Recent performances have been at Liverpool Olympia at the first Hillsborough Tribute gig: Don’t Buy The Sun, performing alongside the Farm, Pete Wylie and the Clash’s Mick Jones. Rachel also performed with Ian Prowse at Liverpool Philharmonic, shortly after the release of his new ‘best of’ album.
Rachel performs regularly with Trez Fez, a lively gypsy inspired jazz band. Trez Fez operates as a collective, with a usual line-up of acoustic guitars, double bass, flute, saxophone and vocals. Usually the band features their numerous ‘friends’ with everything from accordian to violin to clarinet to trumpet to trombone! The recent addition of Phil Bernia on drum kit has given the band a lively, dancy feel and the band are well worth a listen.
Rachel has performed with and supported a number of fine jazz performers, including Gary Potter, John Jorgensen, Fapy Lafertin, Tcha Limberger, Lollo Meier, the Jive Aces, Diminuita Swing Trio and Samuel C Lees.
Rachel Cooper 