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| '''Rachel Carmel Nicolazzo''' (born ] ] in ]), better known as '''Rachel Z''', is a ] pianist. | '''Rachel Carmel Nicolazzo''' (born ] ] in ]), better known as '''Rachel Z''', is a ] pianist. | ||
| Rachel Z was 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. | Rachel Z was 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. | ||
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Rachel Carmel Nicolazzo (born 28 December 1972 in Manhattan), better known as Rachel Z, is a jazz pianist.
Rachel Z was raised into a musical family. With an opera 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 Davis' Miles Smiles, whose improvisational works diverted her from her classical roots.
In 1979 Z's pianistic talent enabled her to attend the Berklee College of Music where she launched the quintet, Nardis, whilst studying with Joanne Brackeen and Richie Beirach. Later Rachel Z graduated from the prestigious New England Conservatory with a 'Distinction in Performance' award in 1984. Meanwhile she was playing professionally in and around Boston in a small group that included George Garzone.
In 1988, Rachel returned to New York and co-wrote Tokyo Blue with schoolmate turned pro-saxophonist Najee and then played mostly keyboards with classic fusion band Steps Ahead where leader Mike Mainieri suggested she altered her name as to be easier to pronounce.
Z remained with Steps Ahead until 1996, however she collaborated with a number of different artists during this time, establishing her name within the jazz scene. In 1995 she worked with one of her greatest influences, Wayne Shorter, on his album High Life, which won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Jazz Album. She was responsible for the CD's synthesized orchestral settings, acoustic piano solos and several concurrent world tours.
In 1999 Z was a part of a jazz fusion project by Stanley Clarke and Lenny White. The effort, simply called Vertu, featured such artists as Karen Briggs on violin, Richie Kotzen on guitar. The album received very positive reviews. (Clarke and White played together with Chick Corea in Return to forever).
Recently Rachel Z has been working mostly as the lead of her own trio. 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.
Rachel Z worked with her own rock group Peacebox. She later toured with Peter Gabriel during his Growing Up tours from 2002 to 2006, which gave Rachel the opportunity to widen her fanbase and work with renowned bassist Tony Levin. Her recent project, titled Dept of Good and Evil, features drummer and husband Bobby Rae and bassist Maeve Royce.
Discography
- "Yin Yang"Steps Ahead(NYC,1991)
- Trust The Universe (Columbia, 1993)
- Room Of One's Own (NYC, 1996)
- Love Is The Power (GRP Records, 1998)
- Vertu (project with Stanley Clarke and Lenny White) (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
- "Greats Hits" Peter Gabriel 2005
- "More Growing Up Live" Peter Gabriel 2006
- "Mortal"(Artistshare)2006
- "Dept of Good and Evil" 2007