One of the most electrifying forces in contemporary British jazz, Rosie Frater-Taylor is a virtuoso guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter of remarkable emotional depth. In equal parts a dedicated student of jazz guitar and admirer of iconic singer-songwriters, she seamlessly weaves rock, alt-pop, neo-soul, new-school jazz, and folk into her singular sound.
On her latest album, Featherweight – Deluxe Edition (November 2024), Frater-Taylor draws on the legacy of luminaries such as Joni Mitchell, Pat Metheny, and Steely Dan, while incorporating modern, rock-tinged influences like John Mayer, Meshell Ndegeocello, and Madison Cunningham. Featherweight has earned widespread critical acclaim, with accolades from Jazz FM, KCRW, BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 4, MOJO, Hi-Fi, Guitar.com, and Guitar World. Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page lauded her exceptional “connection with the guitar” following her performance at the Gibson Garage launch. Rosie has also been spotlighted on Quincy Jones’ Qwest TV, Spotify’s ‘Best of Jazz UK 2024’ playlist and graced the stages of iconic festivals like Love Supreme, British Summer Time and London Jazz Festival. A compelling live performer, Frater-Taylor captured her band’s dynamic energy while recording Featherweight shortly after an ambitious 2022 tour of 60 UK/EU dates. The album reflects her evolving emotional and musical sophistication, delving into profound lyrical themes and an expansive, nostalgic spectrum of sound-worlds, unified by her signature songwriting, guitar work, and vocal prowess. Rosie’s artistry extends to the digital realm, where her engaging one-minute covers have garnered a devoted following. Highlights include her 2-million-streamed rendition of Stevie Nicks’ “Dreams” and a jazz- inflected interpretation of Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill.”
Receiving drum lessons from her father at eight, she had written her first song by ten and was performing original music on London’s live circuit by fourteen. In 2021, while completing her degree at the Royal Academy of Music, she produced and released her critically acclaimed sophomore album, Bloom, which amassed over 3 million streams and earned a Gilles Peterson Worldwide Awards nomination. Since then, Frater-Taylor has toured extensively, performing at prestigious venues like the Barbican and festivals such as We Out Here. Sharing stages with celebrated artists like Madison Cunningham and Kurt Rosenwinkel, she continues cementing her place as one of the most compelling voices
shaping the future of contemporary jazz.
