The Markam Theatre is proud to host a performance by the Rachel Z trio.
The show is scheduled for Wednesday, October 1st

Manhattan-born and raised Rachel Nicolazzo (aka Rachel Z) had music practically ingrained in her genetic code. Having been prepared to follow in her mother’s operatic footsteps, she began voice lessons at two, started classical piano lessons at seven and attended the opera at age nine.

By age of 15 she heard some music by the late jazz trumpet star Miles Davis, and began rebelling against the classical lessons by improvising (jazz at its very best). At this stage in her young life she began to play in a band that covered Canadian jazz songstress Joni Mitchell and Steely Dan songs.

Later she became involved with other major jazz icons such as saxophonist Wayne Shorter and pianist Herbie Hancock. It was Shorter’s compositions and Hancock’s harmonies that helped her bridge the gap from her classical training to jazz.

She then studied with two very important jazz piano artists, Joanne Brackeen and Richie Beirach, and at the same time became extremely interested in electronic fusion.

From that time on she played with numerous major figures in both the jazz mainstream and fusion fields, with the likes of smooth jazz superstar Najee, jazz fusion band Steps Ahead, guitarists Al Di Meola and Larry Coryell, and with fusion band Special EFX and Angela Bofill.

Recordings under her own name appeared to be the next step in her career, and she signed up with Columbia Records, her debut recording in 1993 showed very strong influences by Chick Corea. Herbie Hancock and even guitarist Pat Metheny.

Her latest recording “Moon at the Window” is a trio date set for release on October 15th, 2008, and is a collection of inspired interpretations of Joni Mitchell tunes. Like her acclaimed take on Wayne Shorter’s music (“On the Milky Way Express”) this set pays tribute to one of Rachel’s muses. “Joni is an artist whose song poems have been a life guide which helped me grow up and accept the duality of life”, says Rachel, “she’s a great artist and storyteller. As is Rachel, whose last appearance in the GTA was at the Beaches Jazz Festival in 1995 opening for “Steps Ahead”.

Performance:
Markham Theatre
Wed., Oct. 1st
8:00 pm

Ticket Information:
$37.00 – $48.00
Box Office: (905) 305-7469

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