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{{short description|American jazz pianist}}
{{Refimprove|date=February 2008}}
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{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Misplaced Pages:WikiProject Musicians -->
| name = Rachel Z or Rachel Z Hakim
| image = RachelZ.jpg
| image_size =
| landscape =
| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| birth_name = Rachel Nicolazzo
| birth_date =
| birth_place = New York City, U.S.
| genre = ], ], ], ]
| occupation = Musician
| instrument = Keyboards
| years_active = 1988–present
| label = ], ], ], ], ], ]
| associated_acts = ], ], ], ], ], The OZexperience, The Trio of OZ, Wayne Escofferey, ], Al di Meola
| website = {{URL|www.rachelz.com}}
}}


'''Rachel Carmel Hakim''' (] Nicolazzo), better known as '''Rachel Z''', is an American ] and ] pianist and keyboardist. She has recorded 13 albums as a leader and jazz musician. Her musical style, especially her improvisation, has been described as adjacent to ] and ].<ref>{{cite news |first=John |last=Fordham |author-link=John Fordham (jazz critic) |date=August 4, 2005 |title=Rachel Z, ''Grace'' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2005/aug/05/jazz.shopping1#maincontent |access-date=June 9, 2020 |work=]}}</ref>
'''Rachel Carmel Nicolazzo''' (born ] better known as '''Rachel Z''', is a ] pianist.


== Career ==
Rachel Z was born in ] and raised into a musical family. With an ] singing mother, Z began voice lessons at the mere age of two, and took piano lessons when she was seven. In her mid-teens, Rachel discovered ]' ''Miles Smiles'', whose ]al works diverted her from her classical roots.
In 1999, Hakim was a part of a ] project by ] and ]. The project, entitled ], also featured such artists as ] on violin and ] on guitar and resulted in an album of the same name that year. She experimented with her own rock group Peacebox as a vocalist. During this time, she was also working with the Neapolitan pop musician ], with whom she first began working in 1996 and toured with until his death in 2015. She toured with ] during his Growing Up tours from ] to ], which gave Rachel the opportunity to widen her fan base and work with bassist ]. Her project, entitled "Dept. of Good and Evil", on Savoy received positive reviews.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/dept-of-good-and-evil-rachel-z-savoy-jazz-review-by-john-kelman.php |title=Dept Of Good And Evil Feat. Rachel Z: Dept Of Good And Evil |first=John |last=Kelman |website=] |date=March 20, 2007 |access-date=June 9, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://jazztimes.com/reviews/albums/rachel-z-dept-of-good-and-evil-feat-rachel-z/ |title=Rachel Z : Dept. of Good and Evil feat. Rachel Z |website=] |first=Thomas |last=Conrad |date=May 1, 2007 |access-date=June 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609062501/https://jazztimes.com/reviews/albums/rachel-z-dept-of-good-and-evil-feat-rachel-z/ |archive-date=June 9, 2020}}</ref>


Hakim and her husband ] formed the OZExperience, now "Ozmosys" (Omar and Rachel Z), and in 2019, the new group recorded an EP Eyes to the Future Vol.1 at ]. The five-track EP was released on November 4, 2019 with ] on guitar and Linley Marthe on bass, with J. C. Maillard on additional guitar and voice. The band was hailed at the opening night of the 2019 London Jazz Festival in ]:
Z's pianistic talent enabled her to attend the ] and ], where she launched the quintet, Nardis, whilst studying with ] and ]in NYC. Later Rachel Z graduated from the prestigious ] with a 'Distinction in Performance' award in . Meanwhile she was playing professionally in and around ] in a small group that included George Garzone.
{{blockquote|Is Ozmosys heralding or part of a new wave of jazz? Who can fairly say? But this quartet exudes a chemical energy which is invigorated by the jazz canon - without feeling shackled by it - to gaze ahead....Each player is at their unrestrained best. From the potentially explosive timbral variety of Hakim which feeds the thunderous rhythms and eternal dexterity of Marthe, to the harmonic sophistication and (at times) Metheny-esque melodies served up by Rachel Z and Rosenwinkel. The unit of Hakim/Marthe is the rhythmic driving force that tempers the conjuring of Z/Rosenwinkel: it preserves and strengthens the infectious nuggets of melodic and harmonic gold without compromising their complexity. Most fascinatingly of all, it is not just the audience who undergo an osmosis.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jazzwise.com/write-stuff/article/ozmosys-southbank-centre-queen-elizabeth-hall-efg-london-jazz-festival |title=Ozmosys, Southbank Centre, Queen Elizabeth Hall @ EFG London Jazz Festival |website=] |first=James |last=Shufflebotham |date=November 28, 2019 |access-date=June 9, 2020}}</ref>}}


==Discography==
In ], Rachel returned to New York and co-wrote Tokyo Blue with schoolmate turned pro-] ] and then played mostly ] with classic ] band ] where leader ] suggested she altered her name as to be easier to pronounce.
===As leader===
* ''Trust the Universe'' (], 1993)
* ''A Room of One's Own'' (NYC, 1996)
* ''Love Is the Power'' (], 1998)
* ''On the Milkyway Express'' (], 2000)
* ''Moon at the Window'' (Tone Center, 2002)
* ''First Time Ever I Saw Your Face'' (], 2003)
* ''Everlasting'' (Tone Center, 2004)
* ''Grace'' (], 2005)
* ''Mortal'' (ArtistShare, 2006)
* ''Dept of Good and Evil'' (]/WEA, 2007)
* ''I Will Possess Your Heart'' (Pony Canyon, 2009)
* ''Sensual (feat. Omar Hakim)'' (Dot Time, 2024)


=== As a member ===
Z remained with Steps Ahead until ], however she collaborated with a number of different artists during this time, establishing her name within the jazz scene. In ] she worked with one of her greatest influences, ], on his album ''High Life'', which won a ] for ]. She was responsible for the CD's synthesized orchestral settings, acoustic piano solos and several concurrent world tours.While signed to Columbia by Dr.George Butler,she released an influential CD "Trust the Universe" which was unique in featuring a jazz A side with Charnette Moffett and Al Foster and an electric jazz B side with Lenny White and Victor Bailey.Her next solo CD ,"Room of One's Own-a tribute to Women Artists"featured arrangements by Maria Schneider and Alvaro Cordero.This CD was produced by Mike Mainieri who was an important empresario and mentor for Rachel. "Room" won 4 stars in Downbeat and extensive critical acclaim for the original compositions and wind ensemble arrangements. This work was a defining creative moment for Z as it was a culmination of influences of her classical background and her work with Wayne Shorter.
* ], ''Yin Yang'' (NYC, 1990)
* Vertú, '']'' (Sony, 1999)
* The Trio of OZ, ''The Trio of OZ'' (OZmosis, 2010)
* The ] Experience, ''We are One'' (OZmosis, 2014)
* OZmosys, ''Eyes To The Future, Vol. 1'' EP (OZmosis, 2019)


===As guest===
In ] Z was a part of a jazz fusion project by ] and ]. The effort, simply called ''Vertu'', featured such artists as ] on violin, ] on guitar. The album received very positive reviews.{{Fact|date=February 2008}} (Clarke and White played together with ] in ]).
'''With ]'''
* ''Medina'' (Sony, 2001)
* ''Pino Daniele, Francesco De Gregori, Fiorella Mannoia, Ron - In Tour'' (Sony, 2002)
* ''Concerto: Medina Live'' (Sony, 2002)
* ''Electric Jam'' (Sony, 2009)
* ''Boogie Boogie Man'' (Sony, 2010)
* ''La Grande Madre'' (Blue Drag/Sony, 2012)


'''With ]'''
Rachel Z has always been working simultaneously as an apprentice and as the leader of her own group. Her albums are often meaningful being impressions of the biggest events and influences on her life. She dedicated ''A Room of One’s Own'' to the many women artists who have played a significant role in her life. Her characterical musical intelligence and development of her genre has made her one of the most exciting female jazz musicians of the twenty-first century.
* ''Kiss My Axe'' (], 1991)
* ''The Infinite Desire'' (Universal, 1998)


'''With ]'''
More recently she has blossomed into a fulltime band leader.In 2002 having formed the definitive trio with Bobbie Rae created a tribute to Joni Mitchell called Moon at the Window. This trio group continues to record New Standards and formulate complex arrangements of pop and jazz tunes and has 5 CDs released to date.
* ''Hit'' (], 2003)
* ''Growing Up Live Tour'' (Real World, 2004)
* ''Still Growing Up Live & Unwrapped'' (Real World, 2005)


'''With others'''
Intermittently, Rachel Z experimented with her own rock group Peacebox as a vocalist and Bobbie Rae as the producer. During this time she was also working with the Italian legend ]who she first began working with in 1996. She later toured with ] during his Growing Up tours from ] to ], which gave Rachel the opportunity to widen her fanbase and work with renowned ] ]. Her recent project, titled ], features ] ] and ] ]. This trios' mission is unity and it's ideas for transforming modern pop songs into jazz masterpieces using the jazz tradition as a benchmark for innovative and imaginative arrangements have thrust this group into the forefront of modern jazz.
* ] – ''Urban Renewal'' (], 1995)
* ] – ''Regina Carter'' (], 1995)
* ] – '']'' (], 1995)
* Wayne Escofferey – ''Firehouse 12'' (], 2013)
* ] – ''Mosaic 2'' (Concord, 2015)


==Discography== ===Movies===
'''With Peter Gabriel'''
*''Yin Yang"Steps Ahead(NYC,1990)
*''Trust The Universe'' (Columbia, 1993) * ''Growing Up Live'' (Real World, 2004)
*''Room Of One's Own'' (NYC, 1996) * ''Still Growing Up Live'' (Real World, 2005)
*''Love Is The Power'' (GRP Records, 1998) * “Al DiMeola Live at the Palladium” (Tomato Records, 1996)
*''Vertu'' (project with ] and ]) (Sony Music, 1999)
*''On The Milkyway Express: A Tribute to Wayne Shorter'' (Tone Center, 2000)
*''Moon At The Window: Jazz Impressions Of Joni Mitchell'' (Tone Centre, 2002)
*''First Time Ever I Saw Your Face'' (Venus, 2003)
*''Everlasting'' (Tone Centre, 2004)
*''Grace'' (Chesky, 2005)
*''Highlife"(Wayne Shorter) 1996
*''Growing Up Live DVD")Peter Gabriel 2004
*''Greatest Hits" Peter Gabriel 2005
*''More Growing Up Live" Peter Gabriel 2006
*''Mortal"(Artistshare)2006
*''Dept of Good and Evil" 2007


==References== ==References==
{{reflist}} {{Reflist}}


==External links== ==External links==
* *
*
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*


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{{DEFAULTSORT:Rachel Z}}
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Latest revision as of 05:12, 5 November 2024

American jazz pianist
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Rachel Z or Rachel Z Hakim
Background information
Birth nameRachel Nicolazzo
BornNew York City, U.S.
GenresJazz, jazz fusion, alternative rock, rock
OccupationMusician
InstrumentKeyboards
Years active1988–present
LabelsColumbia, GRP, NYC, Savoy, Tone Center, Chesky
Websitewww.rachelz.com
Musical artist

Rachel Carmel Hakim (née Nicolazzo), better known as Rachel Z, is an American jazz and rock pianist and keyboardist. She has recorded 13 albums as a leader and jazz musician. Her musical style, especially her improvisation, has been described as adjacent to Herbie Hancock and McCoy Tyner.

Career

In 1999, Hakim was a part of a jazz fusion project by Stanley Clarke and Lenny White. The project, entitled Vertú, also featured such artists as Karen Briggs on violin and Richie Kotzen on guitar and resulted in an album of the same name that year. She experimented with her own rock group Peacebox as a vocalist. During this time, she was also working with the Neapolitan pop musician Pino Daniele, with whom she first began working in 1996 and toured with until his death in 2015. She toured with Peter Gabriel during his Growing Up tours from 2002 to 2006, which gave Rachel the opportunity to widen her fan base and work with bassist Tony Levin. Her project, entitled "Dept. of Good and Evil", on Savoy received positive reviews.

Hakim and her husband Omar Hakim formed the OZExperience, now "Ozmosys" (Omar and Rachel Z), and in 2019, the new group recorded an EP Eyes to the Future Vol.1 at Power Station. The five-track EP was released on November 4, 2019 with Kurt Rosenwinkel on guitar and Linley Marthe on bass, with J. C. Maillard on additional guitar and voice. The band was hailed at the opening night of the 2019 London Jazz Festival in Jazzwise:

Is Ozmosys heralding or part of a new wave of jazz? Who can fairly say? But this quartet exudes a chemical energy which is invigorated by the jazz canon - without feeling shackled by it - to gaze ahead....Each player is at their unrestrained best. From the potentially explosive timbral variety of Hakim which feeds the thunderous rhythms and eternal dexterity of Marthe, to the harmonic sophistication and (at times) Metheny-esque melodies served up by Rachel Z and Rosenwinkel. The unit of Hakim/Marthe is the rhythmic driving force that tempers the conjuring of Z/Rosenwinkel: it preserves and strengthens the infectious nuggets of melodic and harmonic gold without compromising their complexity. Most fascinatingly of all, it is not just the audience who undergo an osmosis.

Discography

As leader

  • Trust the Universe (Columbia, 1993)
  • A Room of One's Own (NYC, 1996)
  • Love Is the Power (GRP, 1998)
  • On the Milkyway Express (Tone Center, 2000)
  • Moon at the Window (Tone Center, 2002)
  • First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (Venus, 2003)
  • Everlasting (Tone Center, 2004)
  • Grace (Chesky, 2005)
  • Mortal (ArtistShare, 2006)
  • Dept of Good and Evil (Savoy/WEA, 2007)
  • I Will Possess Your Heart (Pony Canyon, 2009)
  • Sensual (feat. Omar Hakim) (Dot Time, 2024)

As a member

  • Steps Ahead, Yin Yang (NYC, 1990)
  • Vertú, Vertú (Sony, 1999)
  • The Trio of OZ, The Trio of OZ (OZmosis, 2010)
  • The Omar Hakim Experience, We are One (OZmosis, 2014)
  • OZmosys, Eyes To The Future, Vol. 1 EP (OZmosis, 2019)

As guest

With Pino Daniele

  • Medina (Sony, 2001)
  • Pino Daniele, Francesco De Gregori, Fiorella Mannoia, Ron - In Tour (Sony, 2002)
  • Concerto: Medina Live (Sony, 2002)
  • Electric Jam (Sony, 2009)
  • Boogie Boogie Man (Sony, 2010)
  • La Grande Madre (Blue Drag/Sony, 2012)

With Al Di Meola

  • Kiss My Axe (Tomato, 1991)
  • The Infinite Desire (Universal, 1998)

With Peter Gabriel

  • Hit (Real World, 2003)
  • Growing Up Live Tour (Real World, 2004)
  • Still Growing Up Live & Unwrapped (Real World, 2005)

With others

Movies

With Peter Gabriel

  • Growing Up Live (Real World, 2004)
  • Still Growing Up Live (Real World, 2005)
  • “Al DiMeola Live at the Palladium” (Tomato Records, 1996)

References

  1. Fordham, John (August 4, 2005). "Rachel Z, Grace". The Guardian. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  2. Kelman, John (March 20, 2007). "Dept Of Good And Evil Feat. Rachel Z: Dept Of Good And Evil". All About Jazz. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  3. Conrad, Thomas (May 1, 2007). "Rachel Z : Dept. of Good and Evil feat. Rachel Z". JazzTimes. Archived from the original on June 9, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  4. Shufflebotham, James (November 28, 2019). "Ozmosys, Southbank Centre, Queen Elizabeth Hall @ EFG London Jazz Festival". Jazzwise. Retrieved June 9, 2020.

External links

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