Kindred Spirits

Zoe Rahman is English with a Bengali background that she's only recently been exploring. She has a high reputation in the UK but seems to be unknown here. That's a pity for Americans; if you haven't heard her you're missing out. She's a swinging, brilliant, warmly emotional pianist in the McCoy Tyner vein but with a gift for lyricism along with rhythmic lift and light and percussive intensity. This set features four stunning cuts with her brother Idris on clarinet and one charmer with flutist Courtney Pine along with several superb trio numbers. She's comfortable just about anywhere, moving seamlessly among straight-ahead jazz, more abstract pieces, Stevie Wonder, the music of Bengali polymath Rabindranath Tagore, and an Irish folk tune. It's all good. Actually, it's all great, and drummer Gene Calderazzo and (especially) bassist Oli Hayhurst do more than lend support. One of the best recent jazz albums I know of.

Zoe Rahman is obviously a very accomplished musician and in this Album she seems to bravely break from the boundaries of easy to achieve free flowing music in regular Time Signatures. Zoe Rahman's Jazz is very beautiful and just challenging enough to listen to, to be a real joy in entertainment. As soon as I can, I will be looking to buy more from this incredible Artist and I believe that she will progress even further in her musical abilities in the future. What a Star!

Well I have been a fan of Zoe Rahman since she first started playing in Courtney Pine's band, and let's hope she stays in that outfit for many years to come...!!!I would have to say that when I first saw her playing with Courtney, he was doing his best to get the best out of her and was pushing her to the limits of her playing. At times she looked in awe of Courtney, but I would suggest that with this new album under her belt, that Courtney might be in awe of her...The album takes you on a musical journey into the land that she was born, it's a great melting pot of melodies, and worth the journey with her and the band.I cannot wait to see her play on Courtney's next album and tour, he has for my money got one of the best Jazz pianist in the World playing for him, and she as a solo artist has a great future ahead.It can only get better from this album on...

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