Acclaimed jazz pianist Zoe Rahman will present a special live performance of her latest album, 'Hull Suite Live', at Peggy's Skylight on Saturday, September 12. The show will feature Rahman's world-class trio, including drummer Gene Calderazzo and bassist Alec Dankworth.
A Suite Rooted in History and Migration
Commissioned by Hull Jazz Festival for World Piano Day in 2024, the suite draws on themes of voyage, migration, and family. It takes inspiration from two statues in Hull: one commemorates the 2.2 million people who passed through the city as a port between 1836 and 1914, while the other looks out across the Humber to the sea, with a twin sculpture in Iceland commemorating fishermen, seafarers, and shared trade between the two countries.
The music also reflects Rahman's parents' story of migration, sea crossings, and a piano. Reflecting on the composition, Rahman explained: "When I was writing the music, the themes reminded me of my parents' story of migration. My mother emigrated from England to New Zealand when she was 10, travelling for six weeks by ship. She later met my father when they were both at Sydney University – he had travelled by ship from Bengal."
A Personal Connection to the Piano
Rahman continued: "I found out only recently that after going back to visit his family in Dhaka, my father needed proof that he had the financial means to support his return to Sydney, so my mother sold her piano so that they could be together. While composing, I was thinking about how my own existence is strongly linked to sea travel and to the story of a piano!"
The suite features instrumental interpretations presented with poignancy and sensitivity, overarched with what Jazzwise Magazine described as her 'full-blooded, chord splashing, orchestral approach to the acoustic piano.' The work encompasses a wide palette, with earthy blues influences, soulful melodies, and cinematic musical textures.
Recorded Live at The Vortex Jazz Club
The album was recorded live at The Vortex Jazz Club in London, capturing the true essence of the band's live performance. Rahman's longstanding collaborators, Calderazzo and Dankworth, display an electrifying synergy with her on piano.
Born in the UK to a Bengali father and English mother, Rahman studied classical piano at the Royal Academy of Music, gained a music degree at Oxford University, and won a scholarship to study jazz performance at Berklee College of Music in Boston. This year marks the 20th anniversary of her nomination for the prestigious Mercury Music Prize.
For further information and to book tickets, visit Peggy's Skylight's website.
