January 12-16, 2024 the Second Annual New York Jazz Piano Festival took place to rave reviews. Artistic Director Jim Luce and Promoter Charles Carini booked and organized some of jazz piano luminaries and up and coming musicians for a week of world-class pianists playing some of New York City's iconic venues.The featured pianists included John Beasley with saxophonist Chris Potter, Alan Broadbent, David Kikoski with Billy Hart, Edsel Gomez, Elio Villafranca, Lawrence Hobgood, Aaron Parks, and Miki Yamanaka.

This special edition of The Pace Report features pianist Rachel Z live from this year's 2024 New York Jazz Piano Festival. In a career spanning some 4 decades, Rachel Z hails from the Big Apple and recorded and toured with the likes of Michael Mainieri and Steps Ahead, Wayne Shorter, Charnett Moffett, Al Foster, Lenny White, Victor Bailey, Stanley Clarke, Terri Lyne Carrington, Peter Gabriel, Neil Schon, and Najee. She's been married to legendary drummer Omar Hakim and the two of them have toured as the group Ozmosys.

It's been well over a decade since Rachel has recorded as a leader. This segment features new music from her upcoming album that'll be released in March. We sat down after her performance at this year's 2024 New York Piano Jazz Festival to discuss her origins playing and studying with the legendary Joanne Brackeen, her marriage to Omar and how they've kept the music evolving, her musical influences, and what inspires her to write.

For more info on Rachel's new CD and tour dates please visit her online at www.RachelZ.com and follow her on social media via Facebook.com/RachelZMusic and Instagram.com/RachelZMusic.

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