Zoe Rahman

Described in The Observer newspaper as "one of the finest young pianists in Europe", Zoe Rahman has firmly established herself as one of the brightest stars on contemporary jazz scene. Her most recent album, 'Melting Pot', was short-listed for the 2006 Nationwide Mercury Prize and was voted 'Jazz Album of the Year' at the 2006 Parliamentary Jazz Awards. The album has been hailed as "one of the most distinctive piano trio albums" (Jazzwise magazine), a "fantastic new album" (Courtney Pine, BBC Radio 2), and "in every way, an impressive sequel to her debut" (Jazz Review).

Her critically-acclaimed debut album, The Cynic, with drummer Winston Clifford and bassist Jeremy Brown, was short-listed for the BBC Radio 3 jazz album of the year review in 2001 and was described in Straight no Chaser magazine as "one of the best jazz albums of the year". Following the success of her debut CD, Zoe was nominated in the 'Rising Star' category of the 2001 BBC Jazz Awards. In 1999 she won the 'Perrier Young Jazz Musician of the Year' Award, which led to her recording three tracks on a Jazz FM-produced compilation, with drummer Daniel Crosby and bassist Orlando Le Fleming.

Born in Chichester, UK, Zoe studied music at Oxford University and jazz performance at Berklee College of Music, Boston, where she had lessons with the inspirational pianist JoAnne Brackeen. While in America she formed her own trio which featured bassist Joshua Davis and the renowned drummer Bob Moses.

She has been the featured artist on Radio and Television programmes such as BBC4's 'Women In Jazz' documentary, Jools Holland's BBC Radio 2 show, Charles Hazlewood's BBC Radio 2 show, Courtney Pine's 'Jazz Crusade' on BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 4's 'Women's Hour', BBC London's 'Now's the Time', Andrea Oliver's 'The Selector', Northern Broadcasting Internet Radio, Resonance FM and Julian Joseph's Jazz series for Meridian Television. She has performed live on the BBC World Service and on Radio 3's 'In Tune' and music from her Melting Pot album has also been featured on BBC Radio 3's 'Jazz Record Requests'.

Aside from working with her own groups, she continues to perform, record and tour (both in the UK and internationally) with a diverse range of other artists, most recently: Clark Tracey's New Quintet; Reem Kelani; Soothsayers; Tony Bianco; Steve Williamson; JazzXchange Dance Company; Nyika Goremsandu; Netsayi Chigwendere; Gary Boyle; Keziah Jones (2003/4 European tours); David Walcott (2008 Jazz Festival, Barbados); Mekaal Hasan (2001 tour, Pakistan). She has co-written a jazz-based theatre show 'I'm a Fool to Want You', about the French writer/musician Boris Vian, with 'Told by an Idiot' Theatre Company (UK / South American tours 2003-2005).

Other recent albums/DVDs include: Reem Kelani Sprinting Gazelle; Clark Tracey Quintet The Calling and The Mighty Sas; Tony Bianco In A Western Sense; Gary Boyle Games; Soothsayers Tangled Roots; Brigitte Escobar Brigitte; Terry Hall/Mushtaq's The Hour of Two Lights; Keziah Jones Live at the Elysee Montmartre DVD.