Virtuosity and Gratitude: Rachel Z & Omar Hakim Trio Live in Nova Gorica
Grad Kromberk, 8 August 2025
On the last day of the 2025 edition of the Glasba sveta – Musica del mondo festival, held in the beautiful atmosphere of Grad Kromberk in Nova Gorica, Rachel Z & Omar Hakim with their trio created a lyrical soundscape that resonated with the place and audience. It was the last concert of their tour — an evening filled with joy, compassion, gratitude, and virtuosity.
Opening with Peace and Playfulness
After a brief welcome by Rachel Z, they started their set with Save My Soul from their 2024 release Sensual, which she described as “a song for world peace.” From the first notes, we could feel Rachel Z’s lyrical piano touch — a constant presence throughout the evening. Omar Hakim’s drumming remains something special: his control of the cymbals, with a crisp yet pleasant sound, blended perfectly with the piano, while Jonathan Toscano on double bass provided a firm foundation, creating a floating beat.
Toscano took the first solo of the night with a soulful touch, followed by a creative piano solo from Rachel Z, full of motivic ideas and playful improvisation.
They continued with Rachel Z’s composition Artemisia, a tribute to 17th-century painter Artemisia Gentileschi. Its faster 6/4 beat floated effortlessly as she delivered another virtuosic solo over a one-chord riff. Hakim closed the piece with his first drum solo of the evening, a display of dynamic control and touch, from fast fills to slow cymbal swells — always fully in command of the music.
Next was Humor and Nudity, which Rachel Z jokingly described as “everything a couple needs for a good relationship.” Opening with a reggae beat and shifting to a bridge in 5/4, it once again showed her gift for blending rhythmic solidity in the left hand with lyrical phrasing in the right, supported by the rock-solid yet responsive rhythm section of Toscano and Hakim.
Tributes to Miles, Shorter, and Coltrane
The trio then moved into a segment dedicated to their mentors. Hakim played with Miles Davis in the 1980s and recorded three albums with Wayne Shorter in Weather Report, while Rachel Z worked with Shorter in the 1990s, notably on his Grammy-winning album High Life.
They began with a medley of Nefertiti and E.S.P., a tribute to the second great Miles Davis Quintet. E.S.P. swung hard, with Toscano and Rachel Z both delivering burning solos, before Hakim closed with a fabulous 7/4 drum solo.
A tribute to John Coltrane followed — an inventive take on My Favorite Things that segued into the unmistakable riff of A Love Supreme. They ended the homage with Shorter’s Three Marias, handled with precision and fluid ensemble interplay.
Originals that Showcase Chemistry
The final section of the main set returned to original compositions. Sensual, the title track from their 2024 album, was written by Rachel Z for Hakim. Toscano stated the melody before offering a long, soulful bass solo. Rachel Z’s piano solo started with reflective phrasing before building to faster, more complex lines, the rhythm section holding the groove while subtly pushing the momentum.
One of the night’s highlights was Bodhisattva. Built on a mantra-like rhythmic pattern with pop-inflected chords and a subtle four-on-the-floor beat, it radiated a sense of joy. Rachel Z could be seen tapping the rhythmic pulse to her heart — a fitting reflection of how the music felt: flowing freely between musicians and audience.
Encore with a Rock Twist
The main set closed with Toscano’s Quadricolor, its lyrical bass theme mirrored by piano, and the ballad Forgive Mefrom Sensual, which brought the energy down to a quiet, reflective close.
For the encore, the trio unveiled an inventive re-arrangement of Foo Fighters’ These Days, alternating between 4/4 and 7/8. Toscano contributed another lyrical solo, Rachel Z followed with an imaginative, free-flowing solo over the song’s harmonic framework, and Hakim capped the night with a final, brilliantly constructed drum solo.
Rachel Z & Omar Hakim Trio showed once again that live music delivered with joy and gratitude creates the kind of special moments that define great concerts. Their virtuosity — and deep connections to jazz legends — never got in the way of the music itself, instead serving it with taste and sincerity. The beautifully lit Grad Kromberk provided the perfect setting for this inspired tour finale.
But the last day of the festival did not finish there — after the trio’s performance, another concert began on the second stage. The Teo Collori Quartet, a new band led by acclaimed Slovenian guitarist Teo Collori, presented a set of fresh original music while the festival stalls offered local wines and cuisine. It was a fitting close, celebrating not only world-class artistry but also community, connection, and the shared joy of gathering.
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