Rachel Z, a talented young keyboardist, sticks to acoustic piano and varies the personnel and instrumentation from track-to-track on this interesting set. In addition to a woodwind section, such players as violinist
Regina Carter, tenor saxophonist
George Garzone, bassist
Charnett Moffett and drummers
Terri Lyne Carrington and
Cindy Blackman are among the supporting cast.
Rachel's ten originals (which are dedicated to various women ranging from her mother and a 17th-century painter to
Billie Holiday and
Joni Mitchell) cover a lot of moods with the emphasis on relaxed and thoughtful pieces. Although her own piano playing sometimes recalls
Herbie Hancock and
Chick Corea (along with touches of
Bill Evans and
Keith Jarrett),
Rachel Z is gradually developing her own style. This is the type of record that needs to be heard several times to be fully appreciated for
Rachel Z's subtle playing and moody themes contain much of value beneath the surface. Well worth checking out. ~ Scott Yanow