Profile
Rachel Z, a jazz pianist, keyboardist, and technologist, is one of the most influential and versatile musical forces of her generation. She trailblazed a top-level sideman career on keyboards while also recording 13 albums as a jazz leader on Sony, Savoy, Verve/GRP, OZmosis and NYC Records.Rachel Z has recorded, performed, and earned Grammys with Wayne Shorter(Highlife-responsible forsynth orchestral arrangements and piano) and Najee(co-wrote Tokyo Blue). She has toured and recorded with her own band “OZmosis” feat. Omar Hakim,Kurt Rosenwinkel,and Linley Marthe;Steps Ahead; Vertu feat. Stanley Clarke and Lenny White;Wayne Escofferey Band; George Coleman, George Garzone, Christian Mc Bride, Joe Lovano,Ron Carter, Dave Liebman, Charnette Moffett, Victor Bailey, Regina Carter,& Al Foster. She also has a trio with Mino Cinelu(perc Weather Report and Miles Davis) and James Genus(bass-Herbie Hancock)She is featured on keyboards and vocals in the Peter Gabriel Band Growing Up Love tours, recordings and Growing Up live DVD.She has a rock band Peaceboxx and an EDM project called “Nëve Fairchild” which will release a new CD soon. She has toured & recorded with the Neapolitan pop star legend Pino Daniele on 5 CDs. Toured with Savage Garden, Al DiMeola, Marcus Miller, and Neal Schon.
Rachel Z, a graduate of New England Conservatory of Music and SUNY Purchase, has been a Professor at the School of Jazz and Contemporary Music at The New School since 2000
Degrees Held
Bachelor of Arts with Honors and Distinction in Performance, New England Conservatory
Studies with Professor Dan Freeman in Ableton 2018
Visiting Professor in Electronic Music Production at Berklee College of Music 2018
Master's degree in Studio Composition and Electronic Music from SUNY Purchase, honored as the Outstanding Master's Student of the year
Professional Affiliation
Local 802 Musicians Union
Recent Publications
Partial Discography:
OZmosis featuring Rachel z,Omar Hakim ,Kurt Rosenwinkel, Linley Marthe
The Trio of OZ recording 2010
Mosaic 2 Love and Soul : Terri Lyne CarringtonWayne Escofferey Live at Firehouse12
Growing Up Live: Peter Gabriel
Highlife: Wayne Shorter
Vertu feat Stanley Clarke and Lenny White
Department of Good and Evil:Rachel z ,Savoy
Moon at the Window:Rachel Z
Grace: Rachel Z, Chesky Records
First Time Ever I saw Your Face Rachel Z ,Venus
Everlasting: Rachel z
Room of One’s Own: Rachel z,NYC Records
Trust the Universe:Rachel z ,Columbia,Sony Music
Infinite Desire:Al Di Meola
Kiss my Axe:Al DiMeola
Tokyo Blue: Najee
Yin Yang:Steps Ahead
Step Ahead Live in Europe
Urban Renewal : Bobby Watson
Mortal: Rachel Z , Artistshare
I Will Possess Your Heart: Rachel Z Pony Canyon
Trilateral Commission, Jimi Tunnell
Hits and Misses Peter Gabriel
Medina Pino Danieli
https://www.npr.org/2018/08/03/634627570/rachel-z-on-piano-jazz
Performances and Appearances
Http://www.rachelZ.com
Oct 30,2018 Berklee Performance Center EPD Department presents
recording with OZmosis at Power Station Berklee and at OZmosis Studios
Aug 2018 -April 2018 Tour with OZmosis
Omar Hakim ,Kurt Rosenwinkel, Linkey Marthe
Visiting Faculty EPD Berklee College of Music 2018
Sept 2018 Detroit Jazz Festival The Trio of OZ
Sept 2018 Mezzrow Rachel Z4 Mino Cinelu, Luques Cutis, Nick Roseboro
NJ PAC Weather Report and Beyond: Christian Mc Bride, Rachel Z, Omar Hakim, Manolo Badrena,,Joe Lovano
Neal Schon’s Vortex Tour 2013
Terri Lyne Carrington Band: Mosaic 2 Tour 2012-14
Pino Daniele International tour 2010
The Trio of OZ International Tour 2010-13
Saratoga Jazz Festival 2020
Hong Kong Jazz Fest 2020
Blue Note Japan 2020
Thailand International Jazz Conference 2020
London Jazz Festival Nov 2019
Malta International Jazz Fest 2019
St Moritz Jazz Fest 2019
Saratoga International Jazz Festival 2019
Small’s Jazz Club 2019-2020
Research Interests
Women in Jazz- INEQUITY ISSUES
Awards And Honors
Presidential Scholarship for study New England Conservatory 2018 MM award
Grammy for Best Contemporary Jazz CD Wayne Shorter’s for Highlife(piano, synth, synth arranger, programmer)
Grammy for Best Contemporary Jazz CD Najee’s Tokyo Blue(cowriter)
NEA Study Grant : Richie Beirach
NEA Study Grant: Charlie Banacos