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Rachel Carmel Nicolazzo better known as Rachel Z, is a jazz pianist. She attended the Berklee College of Music Summer
School and Manhattan School of Music pre-college, where she launched the quintet, Nardis, whilst studying with Joanne
Brackeen and Richie Beirach in NYC. Later Rachel Z graduated from the New England Conservatory with a 'Distinction in
Performance' award. Meanwhile she was playing professionally in and around Boston in a small group.
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.
Rachel 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 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.
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. "Room" won 4 stars in Downbeat and extensive critical acclaim for the original compositions and wind ensemble
arrangements.
In 1999 Rachel Z was a part of a jazz fusion project by Stanley Clarke and Lenny White. The effort, simply called Vertú,
featured such artists as Karen Briggs on violin, Richie Kotzen on guitar. The album received a very positive review from All
About Jazz.[1] (Clarke and White played together with Chick Corea in Return to forever). She dedicated A Room of One’s
Own to the many women artists who have played a significant role in her life. Her characteristic musical intelligence and
development of her genre has made her one of the most exciting female jazz musicians of the twenty-first century.
In 2010 Rachel formed a new band with Omar Hakim, called "The Trio Of OZ" which released its first CD and began
touring; Z and Hakim also launched OZmosis Records in 2010.
School and Manhattan School of Music pre-college, where she launched the quintet, Nardis, whilst studying with Joanne
Brackeen and Richie Beirach in NYC. Later Rachel Z graduated from the New England Conservatory with a 'Distinction in
Performance' award. Meanwhile she was playing professionally in and around Boston in a small group.
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.
Rachel 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 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.
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. "Room" won 4 stars in Downbeat and extensive critical acclaim for the original compositions and wind ensemble
arrangements.
In 1999 Rachel Z was a part of a jazz fusion project by Stanley Clarke and Lenny White. The effort, simply called Vertú,
featured such artists as Karen Briggs on violin, Richie Kotzen on guitar. The album received a very positive review from All
About Jazz.[1] (Clarke and White played together with Chick Corea in Return to forever). She dedicated A Room of One’s
Own to the many women artists who have played a significant role in her life. Her characteristic musical intelligence and
development of her genre has made her one of the most exciting female jazz musicians of the twenty-first century.
In 2010 Rachel formed a new band with Omar Hakim, called "The Trio Of OZ" which released its first CD and began
touring; Z and Hakim also launched OZmosis Records in 2010.