CANCELLED – Rachel Z & Omar Hakim Trio – May 13, 2026 – BFlat, Cagliari (KME 2026 Preview)

Rachel Z, pianist and keyboardist and one of the most original voices in contemporary jazz, has built her career on versatility and exploration, collaborating with names such as Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller, Terri Lyne Carrington, Al Di Meola, Regina Carter, as well as Peter Gabriel and Pino Daniele, among others. With thirteen albums as a bandleader and an improvisational style that critics have compared to pianists like Herbie Hancock and McCoy Tyner, Rachel Z (born Rachel Nicolazzo) has established herself as one of the most authoritative musicians of her generation. In 1988, she co-wrote “Tokyo Blue” with saxophonist Najee, which won a Grammy and was certified gold; from 1988 to 1996, she was a member of Steps Ahead, and in 1995, she contributed to the success of Wayne Shorter’s High Life, awarded the Grammy for Best Contemporary Jazz Performance. Between 2002 and 2005, she broadened her horizons by accompanying Peter Gabriel on the Growing Up tours, showcasing her musical versatility to an international audience.
A decisive turning point came in 2010 when she founded The Trio of OZ with Omar Hakim and the label OZmosis Records. Partners in art and life, the two later shaped the project Ozmosys in 2019, a band embodying their creative synergy, as heard on the EP “Eyes to the Future, Vol. 1″. Her most recent album, Sensual, was released two years ago under her name.

Drummer, producer, and composer, Omar Hakim is one of the most influential figures of the last forty years, a reference point in the contemporary music scene, able to navigate rock, pop, R&B, jazz, and fusion with ease, as demonstrated by his wide range of collaborations with artists from Miles Davis to Madonna. Born in New York in 1959, he began playing drums at the age of five and made his debut at a very young age in his father’s band. His talent exploded in the 1980s, first alongside Carly Simon and then with Weather Report, with whom he participated in three tours and three albums between 1982 and 1984. In 1983, he joined David Bowie’s creative team, contributing to the albums “Let’s Dance” and “Tonight“. His versatility has led him to collaborate with Dire Straits (on the album “Brothers in Arms“) and pop stars such as Madonna, Mariah Carey, and Céline Dion, as well as to explore electronics and new percussive technologies. In 1989, Omar Hakim released his first album as a bandleader, “Rhythm Deep“, which earned a Grammy nomination. Among his subsequent collaborations are Daft Punk on “Random Access Memories” (2013), Kate Bush during her historic stage return in 2014, Journey on their 2015 tour, and Foo Fighters for Medicine at Midnight. In 2022, he was one of the stars of the Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert at Wembley. Recently inducted into the Zildjian Cymbals Co. Hall of Fame, last year Omar Hakim opened a new chapter in his illustrious career with the launch of his new band, Sonic Boom Squad.

Also from New York is double bassist and electric bassist Jonathan Toscano, one of the most exciting emerging voices on the international scene. His style, which combines rhythmic solidity with harmonic sensitivity, has led him from a young age to collaborate with leading artists in jazz and world music. His list of collaborators includes Gregoire Maret, Steve Wilson, Jeremy Pelt, Billy Kilson, George Garzone, Ben Perowsky, Kader Japonais, Adam Falcon, Richie Morales, Mino Cinelu, Pheeroan Aklaff, Karl Latham, Alan Cave, Oz Noy, and many others. Jonathan Toscano has performed at major international festivals and clubs, including Blue Note in Beijing, the Winter Jazz Fest in New York, XJazz Festival in Berlin, Dobos Festival in Hungary, Long Beach Jazz Festival, and the Zadymka Jazz Festival in Poland. His ability to combine rhythmic precision, timbral depth, and a consistently musical approach is establishing him as one of the most in-demand bassists of his generation.