Music Network Presents the Zoe Rahman Trio with Special Guest Idris Rahman
Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge on Thursday 10th February
"Anyone who's seen her live will be aware of an exceptional talent." Mojo
"Staggering….uplifting and majestic….great to see music of integrity still being made." Snowboy, Blues and Soul Magazine
In the words of jazz reviewer Chris Parker, brace yourself for “all the punch, pith and sheer verve of the Rahman live act" as Music Network presents the Zoe Rahman Trio with special guest Idris Rahman at Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge on Thursday 10th February at 8 PM. Tickets priced €15 / €13 available at Tel. 045 448327 or www.riverbank.ie.
After winning the ‘Perrier Young Jazz Musician of the Year’ Award in 1999, Zoe Rahman has quickly established herself as one of the brightest stars on the contemporary jazz scene with her achingly beautiful fusion of jazz, classical and Bengali music. This concert is promoted by Music Network and Riverbank Arts Centre.
A vibrant and highly individual pianist/composer, Zoe Rahman’s style is deeply rooted in jazz yet it reflects her classical background, British/Bengali heritage and her very broad musical taste. Known for her powerful technique, wide-ranging imagination and exuberant performance, she has become a highly sought-after musician. Born in Chichester, UK, to a Bengali father and English mother, Zoe studied classical piano at the Royal Academy of Music, took a music degree at Oxford University and then won a scholarship to study jazz performance at Berklee College of Music, Boston, where she studied with the inspirational pianist JoAnne Brackeen. After winning the ‘Perrier Young Jazz Musician of the Year’ Award in 1999, she set up her own record label in 2000 and released her debut album, The Cynic, which led to her 'Rising Star' nomination at the 2001 BBC Jazz Awards.
Her second album, Melting Pot, was nominated for the Mercury Prize in 2006 and her 2008 album, Where Rivers Meet, is a stunning collaboration with her brother Idris, exploring music from their Bengali heritage to produce “a wholly original brand of Anglo-Asian music” (Sunday Times). Zoe has toured extensively throughout the UK and internationally.
Idris Rahman is a London-based clarinettist, saxophonist and producer. His main work is with Soothsayers, a reggae/afrobeat collective that he co-leads with trumpeter Robin Hopcraft. Soothsayers have released four albums and have performed extensively throughout Europe in the past 10 years. Idris is currently also a regular member of the Arun Ghosh sextet and Johnny Phillips' group Oriole. He has performed/recorded as a saxophonist with Osibisa, Ayub Ogada, Dodgy, Reem Kelani, Julia Biel, and many more jazz and world music/reggae artists.
Since moving to London from Cambridge in 1995 to study at the Royal Academy of Music, Oli Hayhurst has worked in a wide range of musical fields, playing double bass, bass guitar and guitarron. In 2000-2002 he played with Gilad Atzmon and was a founder member of The Orient House Ensemble, playing on their first two albums for Enja and touring extensively in the UK and Europe. With Polly Paulusma in 2004 he toured Europe opening for Bob Dylan. More recently he played in Parallelogram, a unique collaboration of Jazz and Folk musicians featuring Lau, Acoustic Ladyland's Pete Wareham and Flook's Brian Finnegan. 2007 also saw a trip to Syria with Reem Kelani playing in Damascus and Aleppo with local musicians. As a member of Ray Gelato’s Giants since 2008 he has played all over Europe, North Africa and Brazil and held residencies at Ronnie Scott’s in London and the Blue Note Milan.
Currently residing in the UK, New Yorker Gene Calderazzo has established himself as one of the busiest drummers on the international jazz scene. He has performed with Steve Lacy, Steve Grossman, Eddie Henderson, The NDR, Mike Gibbs, Bheki Mseleku, UMO, Sting, Radiohead, James Moody, Phil Woods, Benny Golson, Ulf Wakenius, Gary Husband, Wayne Krantz, Bobby Watson, Eddie Gomez, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Evan Parker, Randy Brecker and brother Joey Calderazzo among others. When not playing as part of the Zoe Rahman Trio, Gene plays with Partisans, Bheki Mseleku, Hans Koller, Crass Collective and Phil Robsons’ Six Strings and the Beast. Gene is a visiting tutor at The Birmingham Conservatoire, The Royal Academy of Music, Trinity and The Guildhall.
Music Network tours provide a wonderful opportunity to see some of the world’s foremost musicians at affordable prices in venues around Ireland, and are presented in association with RTÉ lyric fm. Music Network is funded by the Arts Council. Further information from (01) 671 9429 or www.musicnetwork.ie.