Ken Frankling Jazz Notes CDs of Note 9/2/2010 - Sunday, August 29, 2010 CDs of Note… Omar Hakim and Rachel Z, The Trio of Oz, Ozmosis Records How do you draw younger, eclectic pop- and rock-based listeners to jazz? Drummer Omar Hakim, pianist Rachel (Nicolazzo) Z and bassist Maeve Royce have one solution. In this new project, they have taken 10 musical standards from the rock world - and used them as launching pads for their own deconstruction, reconstruction and improvisation. The music is wide ranging, retaining enough melodic meat to satisfy both casual and adventurous listeners while fueling their own imaginations as players and arrangers. The “covers,” if you can call them that, include “Angry Chair” by Alice in Chains, Coldplay’s “Lost,” Death Cab for Cutie’s “I Will Possess Your Heart,” Depeche Mode’s “In Your Room,” Morrissey’s “There is a Light” and Sting’s “King of Pain” hit for The Police. In these talented hands, the results are electric - and fascinating.

The Trio of OZ Debuts in USA at Saratoga Jazz Festival 6/17/2010 - The Trio of OZ feat. Omar Hakim and Rachel Z debuts their new CD at the Saratoga Jazz Festival at 12noon on the Mainstage and 4:15pm on the Gazebo Stage!This gig was unbelievable! Thanks to all of you for making this weekend a great launch! Official release date Sept 9th for USA!Check out "thetrioofoz.com' website. Mike Hobart from Financial Times writes,"But most impressive was the trio's inner dynamic as new-kid-on- the-block bassist Maeve Royce and Hakim mashed stark indie chords and odd little riffs into a foundation for exhilarating on-the-edge piano trio jazz. " ****Read our review from All About Jazz

TTOZ Fall 2010 Tour Dates Announced 6/18/2010 - Nov 15-16 Italian Festival dates Nov 17 Veneto Jazz Festival , Italy Nov 18 Omar Masterclass Nov 19 Jazz on Live, Brescia, Italy Nov 20 Biella, Italy TBC Nov 21 Novosadski Jazz Festival,Novi Sad, Serbia TBC Nov 22 Jazz in Sardegna,Cagliari TBC Nov 24 Zadar,Croatia Nov 27 Le Moulin de la Butte, Santeny France Nov 29 Domecile Jazz Club,Pforzeim,Germany Nov 30 Gran Casino, Basel,Switzerland Dec 1 Jazz Club Unterfarht, Munich ,Germany Dec 2  Colo-Saal Jazz Club, Aschaffenberg ,Germany Dec 3 Domecil, Dortmund,Germany Dec 5 Hot Jazz, Munster,Germany Dec 6 Jubez,Karlsruhe, Germany Dec 7 Moods im Sciffbau, Germany Dec 8 Cultural das Haus, Ludwigshafen, Germany Dec 10 Jazz Club Rorschach, Rorschach, Switzerland Dec 12 Porgy and Bess, Vienna, Austria Dec 14 the Spirit of 66,Verviers ,Belgium

The Trio of OZ March 2010 Euro Tour 6/18/2010 - The trio's world premiere happened at Ronnie Scotts London and other UK cities where major international jouralists agreed that this project is an important link from the past lineage of jazz greats to the future of music with musicians who have experience and vision. Rob Adams of the Scotland Herald writes"The repertoire had little to do with jazz but therein lies a tale. The trio, with bassist Maeve Royce contributing powerful lines, follows the fashion for realising pop and rock songs as jazz “standards.” But there’s none of the cuteness that can often result. Alice in Chains’ Angry Chair, Morrissey’s There Is a Light That Never Goes Out and The Police’s King of Pain all transferred naturally into swinging vehicles in the jazz tradition, although the swingingest of all was the bona fide jazz number, Wayne Shorter’s E.S.P., which here merited another set of initials: TNT." ?Star rating: ****

TTOZ 2010 Summer Tour Dates Announced 6/18/2010 - July 22 Palermo Jazz Festival July 23 Torino Jazz Festival July 25 Trieste Jazz Festival Special Guest Bendik Hofseth sax July 27 Langenau Switzerland Jazz Festival July 28 St Moritz Jazz Festival July 29 Savigliano Jazz Festival July 30 Sori (Genova) Jazz Festival Aug 6 Brecon Jazz Festival (Wales) Aug 7 and 8 Siracusa, Sicily Music Festival Aug 12 Taranto Onternational Jazz Festival Aug 13 Grey Cat Music Festival Grosetto Aug 17 Oslo International Jazz Festival Sept 1&2 Cotton Club,Tokyo , Japan Sept 19 South Africa Tour Sept 25 Long Beach,NY Jazz Festival 3:45pm(Thnx to our dear friend Steve Edelman)

Rachel Z and Omar Hakim record Pino Daniele's new cd and perform for Earth Day 6/18/2010 - Check out Roberto Scorta's photos from Earth Day! We had a blast playing live and also recording with Pino! He's awesome!Look out for the new CD in Oct 2010!

TTOZ Saratoga Photo Gallery 7/2/2010 - "a stunning new band The Trio Of OZ" Ken Frankling All About Jazz

Omar Hakim and Rachel Z, The Trio of Oz, Ozmosis Records 9/2/2010 - Sunday, August 29, 2010 CDs of Note… Omar Hakim and Rachel Z, The Trio of Oz, Ozmosis Records How do you draw younger, eclectic pop- and rock-based listeners to jazz? Drummer Omar Hakim, pianist Rachel (Nicolazzo) Z and bassist Maeve Royce have one solution. In this new project, they have taken 10 musical standards from the rock world - and used them as launching pads for their own deconstruction, reconstruction and improvisation. The music is wide ranging, retaining enough melodic meat to satisfy both casual and adventurous listeners while fueling their own imaginations as players and arrangers. The “covers,” if you can call them that, include “Angry Chair” by Alice in Chains, Coldplay’s “Lost,” Death Cab for Cutie’s “I Will Possess Your Heart,” Depeche Mode’s “In Your Room,” Morrissey’s “There is a Light” and Sting’s “King of Pain” hit for The Police. In these talented hands, the results are electric - and fascinating. (This is a September 8 release.)

Feb 2010 Tour with Rodney Holmes on Drums 10/22/2009 - Announcing European Tour Dates for the Trio with Rodney Holmes on drums and Maeve Royce on bass! We are planning a great new repetoire featuring the songs from the new CD plus some old favorites!

Depeche Mode Hang 10/22/2009 - This August to get inspired the band went to see Depeche Mode at the Garden and they threw down! We covered In Your Room on the New CD! Here is  new Photo Gallery!

Rachel and Amad Jamal,Marc Carey,Eric reed,Richie Goods 4/28/2009 - Brief but fun piano summit at IAJE this year! Fun to see everyone as always! Peace-RZ

Fazioli Presents DOGE at the Fazioli Salon 7/5/2008 - Fazioli pianos and Jim Luce present the trio for a free concert Please join us!

ESP and Angry Chair live video from Trieste,Italy 3/29/2008 - Watch us in Trieste,Italy -it's hot!

Muralto 2005 MayPhoto MiniGalleryNow available 9/19/2005 - Another awesome gig on the May 2005 European Tour was in Muralto. We thank our Swiss friends kindly for the priviledge of playing at this prestigious venue! Thanks to Matteo,Paolo Keller,Roger,Marco,Claudio and Mirko!Have a look! For the full story join the Grtace Participant and support the next project! BE A GRACE PARTICIPANT NOW

Rachel Z played at the Monk 90th Fazioli Celebration 10/18/2007 - It was as usual a priviledge to be included at the Fazioli Celebration of Monk's B day!My though was to be an individual like Monk is so i did'nt play Monk! HAHA! Monk got it!Thanks again to Jim Luce!

Brooklyn Shiba Inus in Effect 8/3/2007 - Check out the Brooklyn Shiba Inu band at myspace/brooklynshibainus and unjoy these talented pups music after only 5 weeks on the planet!To purchase email ming at mingandevil@yahoo.com

D.O.G.E. Overtakes JAZZ STANDARD with new sounds 5/24/2007 - NYC was a who's who of great people thanks to you all of you for for making this a sold out event! Tony Levin and Erik Naslundmade this event very special! Especially WBGO and Gary Walker,Bloomberg radio's Pat Cole,Jerry Kovarsky and Jack Hotop at Korg,and Josh Sherman and Jim Feitchman at Savoy for coming out!

D.O.G.E.Keyboard Magazine June 2007 Lead Review 5/24/2007 - It takes both profound virtuosity and ample good taste to get away with jazz treatments of pop-chart staples. The inimitable Ms. Z - who's both sat at a piano for Wayne Shorter and stood behind a synth rack for Peter Gabriel - does a lot more than get away with it. She brilliantly excavates the harmonic complexity lurking in songs from Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart" to "King of Pain" by The Police. Drummer Bobbie Rae's deft mixology of straight-ahead jazz, funk, and hip-hop is always just perfect, and fellow Gabriel veteran Tony Levin and up-and-coming bass prodigy Maeve Royce take turns laying the bass foundation for Rachel's burning piano solos, not to mention her sultry crooning on the original "Moon and Sun." If you're a jazz aficionado, this CD will give you newfound respect for rock songwriting. If you're not, it may well turn you into one. Essential listening.Steve Fortner

Ken Micalef's Pick of the Week Philadelphia! 5/23/2007 - Rachel Z's weird persona as a sex kitten/fusion keyboard whiz has sometimes overshadowed her brilliance on the acoustic piano, but that's fully corrected on her new album Dept. of Good and Evil. Inspired improvisations fire the album, such as the flurries in "King of Pain," the chordal melody of "E.S.P." and the delicate touches of "Lakme." Dept. is certainly accessible, from Z's generous piano lines to the buoyant drumming of Bobbie Rae. Some may accuse Rachel Z of pop-star ambitions, but Dept. of Good and Evil should silence the critics. (Ken Micallef)

Pittsburgh Report Feat.Sean Jones w/D.O.G.E. 5/23/2007 - Short Takes: Rachel Z trio takes a versatile approach Tuesday, May 22, 2007 Pianist Rachel Z has emerged from the shadows of Peter Gabriel to form one of the most innovative trios to come along in some time. Performing at Gullifty's Restaurant Saturday night, Z demonstrated how any song can be used as a launching pad for jazz dynamics. Z has long been adept at bridging genres, and her group, Dept. of Good and Evil, continued that path Saturday night. She paid homage to Sting on "King of Pain" and invited trumpeter Sean Jones to the stage to assist with Wayne Shorter's "ESP." Jones is a dynamo and worth the price of admission whenever he's playing. The group then launched into Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb" and performed an unidentified tune from Depeche Mode. But the trio made its greatest impact on "Angry Chair," a song by Alice in Chains. How many jazz trios have that kind of repertory? -- Nate Guidry, Post-Gazette jazz critic

Dept of Good and Evil CD 5/22/2007 - Buy the Album Here! Now u can get a signed CD and free downloads,tour reports everything D.O.G.E. for $19.95-check it out!

Dept of Good and Evil Reviews 5/16/2007 - Check out the full reviews of what the critics are saying about D.O.G.E. now! Click HERE to buy the album!

Hot Boys in in Minneapolis 2006 Tour 7/17/2006 - "I love the creative interplay between Rachel and Bobbie.The Rachel Z Trio is going places, in more ways than one"-says eric norgaarden. Trumpeter eric Naslund reaches new heights of beauty in his playing! read more

Blue Note Photogallery 7/15/2006 - The Blue Note Miano was a special event with sold out shows and high energy performances of new material like...oops we can"t reveal our secrets yet! Photos of our friends and fans-thanks to Enrico,Radio Monte Carlo Nick the Nightfly and our fans and friends!Also features some live shots by Max the bassist from Milano and of course Roger Salem!

Celebrity/Legend Notes 7/15/2006 - NEW! Each month Rachel Z will write an article about being a sideman and shmoozing with jazz and rock legends. These features stories will have musical and social commentaries on each incredible experience. Some of the featured artists will be Mike Mainieri, Wayne Shorter(commentary about Footprints:the book),Peter Gabriel,Sting,Bono,Al Di Meola,Larry Coryell,Bobby Watson,Angela Boefil,Najee,George Coleman,Bob Moses,Lenny white and Stanley Clarke,and Victor Bailey...more

Introducing Maeve Royce-bass 11/21/2005 - Introducing the hot new bass player Maeve Royce for upcoming Z Trio tour! rachel Z has a history of working with interesting bass players from Charnette Moffitt,Ron Carter,and Stanley Clarke to Tony Levin,and Chris Luard. Now we are bringing another young original bass talent to the scene!Reminiscent of the legendary Scoot La Faro- here is a little info about this gifted young musician! read more

Ronnie's Scotts Exclusive Pro Photos! 9/19/2005 - Cool photos by some pros like Mr.Pakin and Mark McKinley! Only available when you join the Grace participant! Join now to see sexy photos TOTALLY BUY GRACE NOW

Ronnie's Scotts Mini Gallery 9/19/2005 - Finally some progress on this great week in London at the classic club Ronnie Scotts! What a trip! This gallery documents the gig as seen by Roger. Chris Squire(FROM YES) came down and the whole thing was sooooooooo great! Thanks to Monty,Moses,Pete King,Collin,and Dorothy-plus the coolest John Ellison and ESIP-join the grace particiapnt to see more cool photos! Totally be a grace participant

Italy Tour 2005 Photos Posted 9/18/2005 - Finally the much awaited photo galleries from Italy shall be available for your perusal.... sorry for the wretched wait. Muralto-Milano-Chat Noir-Lausanne and Casino D'italia! WHEW!!!All Coming up!