Biography
Job title: Senior Lecturer
Courses taught: BA (Hons) Music (Jazz)
Specialisms: Jazz trombone, Session work, Solo and ensemble performance
Jazz Trombonist and Michael Rath Artist Kevin Holbrough is a senior lecturer on the BA Jazz Pathway, specialising in jazz trombone performance. A highly respected jazz trombonist, freelance musician and educator, Kevin has an ever expanding discography not only in jazz but a wide range of musical genres.
Leading UK jazz trombonist and trombone professor at The Royal Academy of Music, Mark Bassey describes Kevin as a “consummate professional- immaculate lead player and fine soloist" and award-winning jazz trombonist Dennis Rollins "Kevin is one of a breed of new jazz trombone players making waves on the jazz scene, check him out!"
Within the jazz field Kevin is noted for his unique style, sound and creativity, he has performed and continues to perform at jazz festivals and concert venues throughout the UK. He has performed and toured with artistes and bands such as The Mingus Big Band, Gordon Goodwin, Dennis Rollins' Boneyard, James Morrison, Eric Marienthal, Wayne Bergeron, Phil Woods, Buddy Rich Trumpet player and arranger John La Barbera, NYJO, The Colman Brothers, Descarga, Casa Latina All Stars, Lead Trombone with The Jamil Sheriff Big Band and The Abstract Orchestra, North Line Jazz tours including The Simon Read Octet and The Jamil Sheriff Octet, The Jamil Sheriff Big Band, Toby Greenwoods 'We Free Kings', Paul Edis Sextet, The LCoM Legacy Big Band. He performs regularly on the jazz circuit with his own groups; The Mark Chandler/Kev Holbrough Quintet, Kevin Holbrough Quartet, his own five trombone ensemble 'Slide Area' and also as a guest soloist at many jazz clubs throughout the UK.
In 2016 Kevin recorded his debut quartet album "Influences" on the New Jazz Records label with Pianist Dave Newton, Drummer Sebastian De Krom and Bassist Zoltan Dekany. This recording pays homage to the players who have influenced his own playing, with a mixture of original compositions, arrangements from the great American Songbook and the music of JJ Johnson.
“Kev is the best player to sit next to in a section. He can play any part and every improvised solo he plays is as though he has spent hours creating it!” Carol Jarvis
Professor of Trombone at Essen, Guildhall School of Music and Head of Brass at Birmingham Conservatoire Chris Houlding quotes "Kevin Holbrough shows a reassuring and in-depth command of all jazz styles but uses these to create an interesting and stimulating personal approach. A really creative musician!"
He has performed at all the major UK jazz festivals, theatres, arenas and music festivals such as The Royal Albert Hall, The London Palladium, Royal Concert Hall Glasgow, Birmingham Symphony Hall, Glastonbury, Cheltenham Jazz Festival, London Jazz Festival, Wigan Jazz Festival, Manchester Bridgewater Hall, O2 venues throughout the UK and The London Jazz Cafe.
Pop and commercial work include tours and performances with numerous artistes, these include; performing on The Voice UK where he performed with Tom Jones, Will I Am, Jennifer Hudson and Olly Murs. He has also performed with indie pop band Embrace, Tony Hadley, Jaki Graham, Ronan Keeting, Martha Reeves, The Bee Gees, Engelbert Humperdinck, Joe Longthorne, X- factor finalist Sam Bailey, Martin Fry and ABC.
Kevin has also done many recording sessions including library music for Columbia, BBC Rastamouse and as a side man Kevin has featured on numerous sessions, including artists such as Ray Quinn, Take That, The Wandering Hearts, Joe Longthorne, Rodina "You Got Soul", R&B sensation 'Laura', Capri, The Abrstract Orchestra, Dave Formula (formerly of the bands 'Magazine', 'Visage' and 'The Angel Brothers') release, ‘Satellite Sweetheart’, Jaki Graham and on the contemporary jazz scene with projects such as the highly praised albums of The Jamil Sheriff Big Band, The Jamil Sheriff Octet and The Simon Read Octet.
A highly respected educator, Kevin delivers private lessons, workshops and masterclasses in Performance and Improvisation. He has delivered jazz workshops for the British Trombone Society and been an external jazz trombone tutor for The Royal Northern College of Music and Hull University. He is also a tutor on the Greater Manchester Jazz Orchestra HUB directed by Richard Iles, The Leeds Conservatoire Creative Summer School and Jazz Brass Day. Many of his students have gained positions in the prestigious groups such as the National Youth Jazz Orchestra and National Youth Jazz Collective, with many going on to lead successful careers as professional trombonists.
"Kev is the best player to sit next to in a section. He can play any part and every improvised solo he plays is as though he has spent hours creating it!” Carol Jarvis
