Weather Morning: 14°c Overcast Afternoon: 15°c Drizzle

Critics' Choice

Film

Andrew O'Hagan

quoteNew Moon is nothing if not an international advertisement for the hungry virtues of virginity and young people can’t get enough of itquote

Andrew O'Hagan The Twilight Saga: New Moon Theatre

Henry Hitchings

quoteA smart, prickly and rewarding view of sexual and emotional confusionquote

Henry Hitchings Cock Restaurants

David Sexton

quoteKitchen W8 is a bargain for this area, if such sophistication is what you crave quote

David Sexton Kitchen W8

Reader reviews

Film

Adam, Harrow

quoteToo long and drawn out but very entertaining with excellent special effectsquote

2012 Theatre

Rob, London

quoteThis is a peculiar play and does not work for me. Some of it is very funny but there are real flawsquote

The Habit Of Art Music

Bernard, London

quoteAlex has a strong powerful voice and was faultless, she is far better now than she was on the X-Factorquote

Alexandra Burke

Music reviews London,

Zoe Rahman Trio

Your rating
one startwo starthree starfour starfive star
Click on a star to rate
Pizza Express Jazz Club
Dean Street, W1D 3RW

Evening Standard rating Jack Massarik's rating
Evening Standard rating Reader rating
 Add your review

Description: The Mercury Prize-nominated pianist plays groove-based standards and originals, accompanied by bassist Oli Hayhurst and drummer Gene Calderazzo.


Phone: 0207873 7300

Trains: Tube: Tottenham Court Road Overground network

 
Please wait the page is loading extra content
  • Show details
  • Hide details

Tough and beautiful

By Jack Massarik, Evening Standard  16.04.07
 
Sensuous touch: Zoe Rahman is a rare jazz nominee for the Mercury Prize

Sensuous touch: Zoe Rahman is a rare jazz nominee for the Mercury Prize

Look here too

Rightly acclaimed as an ultra-rare jazz nominee for the Mercury Prize, Zoe Rahman didn't actually win that bauble but has since become a very busy bandleader nevertheless.

Beneath her sunny smile and relaxed persona lies a solid take-charge attitude, manifested by her unusually tough trio arrangements. Packed with tempo changes and unexpected stop-go accents, these demanded absolute concentration from drummer Gene Calderazzo and bassist Oli Hayhurst.

Some perspiration, too, as they strove heroically to hit every cue in split-second unison during this two-night residency.

The Stride, by South African maestro Abdullah Ibrahim, featured several such instant gear-changes before hitting a satisfying fast-medium groove for Zoe to embellish in her alternately florid and hard-driving way. The slower-paced Camel, one of her many originals, highlighted her sensuous keyboard touch, while the raga-like figures of Pother Klanti later tapped into her Asian side.

After a bass feature from the Bill Evans book, Gloria's Step, and a tuneful Portuguese folk-song whose title Zoe momentarily couldn't recall, came the real meat of the set. Friday the Thirteenth, chosen on its correct day, recalled the dynamic, oblique attack of Joanne Brackeen, the formidable pianist with whom Zoe studied at Boston's Berklee college.

The orchestral way she punctuated delicate right-hand lines with dense bass-clef chords also suggested the great Ahmad Jamal, reportedly bound for Ronnie Scott's later this summer. Much to admire, then, not forgetting the yard of waist-length hair that now shimmers darkly down the Rahman back. Somebody should call L'Oreal, because she's worth it.

More


Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.

 

Reader reviews (0)

 Add your review

No comments have so far been submitted.


Add your comment

 

Your email address will not be published

Terms and conditions make text area bigger You have  characters left.


 
 


 
 
London's Weather
Morning
Overcast
14°c
Afternoon
Drizzle
15°c
5 day forecast
 
 

Daily Mail Mail on Sunday Travel Mail This is Money Metro

Loot | Jobsite | Homes & property | London jobs | FindaProperty.com | Primelocation.com | Educate London | Holiday Villas