Grace Rachel Z

• 1 Protect This Child 06:13
• 2 Moon in Your Hair 05:31
• 3 One 06:17
• 4 Grace 05:44
• 5 Pain 06:48
• 6 Come as You Are 06:37
• 7 This Women's Work 04:56
• 8 Riot 06:17
• 9 Joga 06:58
• 10 Imagine 06:48
• Total Runtime 01:02:09

Info for Grace

On Grace Rachel selects songs by U2, Nirvana, Kate Bush, Björk and John Lennon to mix with her own compositions binding the ten tracks of the album with spare arrangements and universal themes encompassing love, pain and growth. The simplicity of a trio consisting of Rachel's piano, long-time collaborator Bobbie Rae's signature drums/percussion and Chris J. Luard on bass, recorded with Chesky's renowned minimalist miking techniques, creates a most intimate environment for such eloquent material.

"A very talented jazz pianist, Rachel Z. has always been interested in contemporary pop and rock music. Grace is a bit of a surprise for, in addition to her piano playing in a trio, Rachel sings on the majority of the selections. Her voice is expressive but just average and not on the same level as her work on piano. She apparently felt the need to express herself vocally, performing originals with her own lyrics plus songs by U2, Kurt Cobain, Kate Bush, Björk, and John Lennon (a spooky version of "Imagine"). Listeners primarily interested in Rachel's jazz work will still consider most of Grace of interest because there are many piano solos and good close interplay by the trio even if it is not quite essential. In addition, fans of singer/songwriters who do not mind bits of jazz in their music will find Rachel to be well worth discovering." (Scott Yanow, AMG)

Rachel Z, piano, vocals
Chris J. Luard, bass
Bobbie Rae, drums, percussion

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. She also co-wrote the Grammy-winning song, 'Tokvo Blue' with saxophonist Najee Rachel came to worldwide prominence in the rock world in the Peter Gabriel concert films Growing Up Live and Still Growing Up Live.

Since 2000, she has been a Professor of Jazz and Contemporary Music Studies at The New School University in New York.

Since 2022 also a Professor of Jazz Studies and Electronic Music at Montclair State University and Cali School of the Arts.

This album contains no booklet.