Trumpeter, composer, and educator Rachel Spencer doesn’t just play jazz — she carries its lineage forward with a voice that feels both grounded and unmistakably her own. A versatile and engaging performer known for her clear, expressive tone, Spencer moves fluidly between genres and settings: big bands and orchestras, brass ensembles and intimate club stages, original compositions and high-profile touring work. Wherever she lands, what stands out is the same thing — stylistic range, musical intelligence, and a commitment to telling the truth through sound.
At the heart of Spencer’s artistry is a love for melody and story. Her original music blends the melodic sophistication of post-bop with contemporary grooves and modern improvisation, shaped by the influence of legendary artists including Blue Mitchell, Kenny Garrett, and Roy Hargrove. It’s a sound that balances lyrical storytelling with expressive soloing — reverent to the tradition, but never trapped by it. Instead, Spencer’s writing and playing feel like a conversation between eras: the past speaking clearly through the present.
That clarity has taken her far. As a performer, Spencer has appeared nationally and internationally as both a bandleader and freelance musician, sharing stages with acclaimed artists including Graham Reynolds, Andre Hayward, Diego Rivera, and Peggy Stern. Her career has opened doors to major festivals and showcase moments — from SXSW to concert stages across the United States — and has carried her beyond borders, including a featured performance in Hong Kong’s Chinese New Year Parade. She has also performed at events and institutions such as TMEA, OMEA, and the Tanglewood Music Center, steadily building a reputation as a musician who can meet any room with authority and heart.
In recent years, Spencer added another standout chapter to that story: holding the lead trumpet chair for the second North American tour of The Addams Family: A Musical Comedy. It’s the kind of role that demands consistency, stamina, and precision night after night — and it speaks to the level of trust she’s earned as a professional. Whether in a theatre pit or under club lights, Spencer brings the same commitment: show up, serve the music, and make it count.
Now based in Austin, Texas, Spencer is a familiar presence in the city’s top venues, performing both as a leader and in-demand side musician. From The Elephant Room and Monk’s Jazz Club to Parker Jazz Club, her playing has become part of Austin’s living jazz ecosystem — a scene built on community, collaboration, and the constant pursuit of something honest. She has also appeared as a featured performer with Graham Reynolds in an SXSW showcase, further underlining her ability to move between spaces and styles without losing her identity.
That identity comes into sharp focus on her debut album, The Next Right Thing, due for release in Fall 2026. Written over five years spanning the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic through the completion of her Doctor of Musical Arts degree, the project documents one of the most transformative stretches of Spencer’s life — not just musically, but personally. Featuring seven original compositions and guest trombonist Michael Dease, the album traces her search for an authentic artistic voice, exploring themes of mentorship, imposter syndrome, creative resilience, and artistic growth.
The title itself carries a quiet kind of power. Inspired by a mentor’s enduring advice — “Just focus on doing the next right thing.” — the record becomes a celebration of choosing artistry over fear, one thoughtful step at a time. In 2025, Spencer was awarded the Presser Foundation Graduate Music Award, helping fund the album and recognising both her artistic achievement and her ongoing contribution to the jazz community.
Spencer’s journey to this moment is rooted in discipline and drive. Born in a small town north of Cincinnati, she later moved to Texas for graduate school, immersing herself in performance at the University of Texas, where she played in the UT Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, New Music Ensemble, and Jazz Orchestra, and became a semifinalist in the National Trumpet Competition (graduate solo division). Before that, she spent five years with The Bluecoats in DCI as a lead trumpet player, soloist, and horn sergeant — winning bronze, silver, and gold with the corps.
Beyond the stage, Spencer is equally committed to education. With more than fifteen years of teaching experience, she’s a respected clinician and masterclass presenter who consistently mentors students toward success in auditions and competitions. Her leadership roles span organisations including UT Austin, DCI, Soundsport, and New School of Music Austin, reflecting a career dedicated not only to performance, but to building pathways for the next generation.
With The Next Right Thing on the horizon, Rachel Spencer stands as the kind of artist jazz has always needed — one who honours the tradition by expanding it, and who understands that the most powerful music often comes from the courage to be real.
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