A Unique Live Album Concept By One Of The UK’s Most Exciting Jazz Pianists

The phenomenally talented pianist Zoe Rahman is proud to present her latest album entitled
“Hull Suite Live”. Commissioned by Hull Jazz Festival for World Piano Day in 2024, the suite
is based on themes of voyage, migration and family, taking inspiration from two statues in Hull:
One which commemorates the 2.2 million people who passed through Hull as a port city
between 1836 and 1914, and the other which looks out across the Humber to the sea and
has a twin sculpture looking back towards it from Iceland, commemorating fishermen,
seafarers and trade shared between the two countries.

The music is also about Zoe’s parents’ story of migration, sea crossings and a piano – as Zoe explains: “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 6 weeks by ship. She later met my father when they were both at Sydney University – he had travelled by ship from Bengal.

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!”

Zoe Rahman’s instrumental interpretations of these topics are presented with poignancy and
sensitivity, overarched with what Jazzwise Magazine have described as Zoe’s “full-blooded, hord splashing, orchestral approach to the acoustic piano.” The Hull Suite features Zoe’s world-class trio, with drummer Gene Calderazzo (Pharoah Sanders, Randy Brecker) and bassist Alec

Dankworth (Abdullah Ibrahim, Dave Brubeck). These longstanding collaborators display an
electrifying synergy with Zoe on piano. The nature of the work encompasses a wide pallet,
with earthy blues influences, soulful melodies and cinematic musical textures,

The album was recorded live at The Vortex Jazz Club in London, capturing the true essence of Zoe and her band’s live performance – a special moment forever encapsulated on this recording.Born in the UK, to a Bengali father and English mother, Zoe studied classical piano at the

Royal Academy of Music, gained a music degree at Oxford University and then won a scholarship to study jazz performance at Berklee College of Music, Boston. A very well
established and respected figure in international jazz, Zoe’s music has also reached far beyond
specific scenes for decades, this year marks the 20th anniversary of Zoe receiving a nomination
for the prestigious Mercury Music Prize.

Zoe Rahman’s music has always been truly original. Hull Suite is a work that channels Zoe Rahman’s exuberant spirit, fortified by her exemplary band and ultimately creating an outstanding listening experience for anyone who appreciates true artistry in its purest form – an adventure not to be missed!

Ms Rahman will perform at Newcastle’s Lit and Phil as part of their Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music 2026 on Friday 2nd October at 8pm.

^{Photo Credits: L Wormsley}