They met on the club scene years ago. They recorded together sporadically over the years and occasionally shared the same bandstand. But they likely never imagined they’d end up together – and yet ten years into their relationship, Rachel Z and Omar Hakim are one of the music world’s most dynamic duos. Whether playing or recording together or separately, teaching at the highest level, or advocating for their fellow musicians, these two are one of the brightest, most innovative and most positive couples in music today Rachel Carmel Nicolazzo, once known professionally as Rachel Z, and now as Rachel Z Hakim, has distinguished herself as a jazz and rock keyboardist and pianist since the late 1980s. Rachel graduated from the New England Conservatory with a “Distinction in Performance” award while working professionally with performers like Bob Moses, Miroslav Vitous and George Garzone. While with the classic fusion band Steps Ahead from 1988 through 1996, she worked with Al Di Meola, Larry Coryell, Special EFX and Angela Bofill. Rachel then began a fruitful association with vibraphonist Mike Mainieri, who produced her Columbia Records debut “Trust the Universe” in 1993. Her connection to jazz legend Wayne Shorter grew from that of protege to full-blown collaborator over the two years she worked on his 1995 hit comeback album “High Life.” Rachel also played acoustic piano on the album and served as music director for the tour that followed. The CD won a Grammy for best contemporary jazz album. 1996 also saw the release of her NYC Records debut “A Room of One’s Own.” Rachel later released an album on GRP, “Love is the Power,” which featured hip-hop grooves with melodic piano flourishes. She returned to acoustic music, in an all-female trio setting, with “On the Milky Way Express,” her well-received tribute to Shorter, in 2000. In the ensuing years, she has appeared and recorded as a leader and with Peter Gabriel, Wayne Escoffery, Terri Lynne Carrington, Journey, and with her husband, Omar Hakim, with their band Trio of Oz. She teaches at the New School for Jazz, under a solid 802 contract.