University News Last updated 26 February
Visiting Lecturers Sara Colman and Rebecca Nash, the vocalist-songwriter and pianist-composer duo, have released their new collaboration, Ribbons Vol. 1 today (Friday 27 February) on CD and across all digital platforms.
Ribbons Vol.1, which has been released on Birmingham-based independent label Stoney Lane Records, was recorded as part of RBC’s Recording Artist in Residence programme within the Music Technology Department. A true collaboration of RBC tutors, it includes the production team of Ben Markland and Niccolo Conti, as week as guest artists Jonathan Silk and Percy Pursglove.
The strong bond between Sara and Rebecca, as friends and artists, was central to the album’s creation, and this collection of new works celebrates the joy of musical partnership, friendship and collaboration.
The album is built around a jazz sensibility, with Sara and Rebecca’s ‘story-songs’ forging threads from the folk, classical, improvised and songwriter worlds, with influences as diverse as Rickie Lee Jones, Quercus, Joni Mitchell and Debussy.
The opening track, Noble Heart, features acclaimed saxophonist Iain Ballamy and the album presents a host of notable guest artists with associations to Birmingham including saxophonist Trish Clowes and guitarist Steve Banks.
Sara has worked with some of the leading lights in British music, including Laura Mvula, Coldplay and Mahalia, performing at the BBC Proms and Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage in recent years.
Rebecca is also a prolific performer, featuring at Jazzahead! 2025; BBC Radio 3’s J to Z studio session and the Lotus Code tour – a UK-Japan collaboration at the Southbank.
Sara and Rebecca are part of the core team of visiting lecturers in the Jazz Department, and you can hear them performing music from Ribbons Vol. 1 at the RBC Jazz gala in Eastside Jazz Club, Thursday 19 March, 6.30pm
Pictured: (l-r) Visiting Lecturers Sara Colman and Rebecca Nash.