Rachel Z, piano/keyboards Jonathan Toscano, bass Omar Hakim, drums Miles Davis & John Coltrane 100th Birthday Celebration! Rachel Z is a keyboardist with a long history of award-winning performances in the worlds of jazz and rock. She co-wrote the Grammy-winning song ‘Tokyo Blue’ with saxophonist Najee. In addition to her 13 albums as bandleader and her work in internationally acclaimed bands such as Steps Ahead, Vertú, the Omar Hakim Experience, and OZmosys, she has played and toured with artists like Wayne Shorter (on the Grammy-winning album High Life), Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller, Terri Lyne Carrington, Al Di Meola, and Regina Carter. Rachel came to worldwide prominence in the rock world in the Peter Gabriel concert films Growing Up Live and Still Growing Up Live. Omar Hakim is widely known as a rock and pop, jazz and jazz fusion drummer/producer/composer and arranger. His lengthy associations with Weather Report, Miles Davis, David Bowie, Foo Fighters, Sting, Madonna, Kate Bush, Dire Straits, Daft Punk, Brian Ferry, Michael Jackson, The Pussycat Dolls, Journey and countless others put him in a category that has uniquely imprinted the sound of these artists on both performances and recordings. Omar has recorded on over 100 albums (too many to list) and has extensive producer and composer credits.
Rachel Carmel Hakim (née Nicolazzo), widely acclaimed as Rachel Z, is a luminary of the jazz and rock realm with a dynamic discography and a versatile stand-alone musical spirit, her journey embodies a fusion of innovation and dedication.
Described as a modern-day virtuoso, Rachel Z’s musical style, particularly her captivating improvisation, has drawn comparisons to iconic figures such as Herbie Hancock and McCoy Tyner. The London Times has lauded her as “an improviser whose spontaneous playing is by no means eclipsed by the work of presiding geniuses such as Herbie Hancock and McCoy Tyner” (John Fordham, The Guardian).
In a remarkable collaboration with saxophonist Najee, Rachel Z co-wrote the Grammy Award-winning and certified Gold Record “Tokyo Blue” in 1988, a testament to her songwriting prowess. Her involvement with fusion band Steps Ahead from 1988 to1996 showcased her keyboard and piano virtuosity, a period marked by artistic exploration and growth.
In addition, contributed to Wayne Shorter’s album “High Life,” which won her a second Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album in 1997. This collaboration showcased her ability to elevate compositions with her exceptional touch.
In addition to her 13 albums as bandleader and her work in internationally acclaimed bands such as Steps Ahead, Vertú, the Omar Hakim Experience, and OZmosys, she has played and toured with Wayne Shorter, Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller, Terri Lyne Carrington, Al Di Meola, and Regina Carter. Rachel came to worldwide prominence in the rock world in the Peter Gabriel concert films Growing Up Live and Still Growing Up Live.