Rachel Carmel Nicolazzo (born 28 December 1962 in Manhattan), better known as Rachel Z, is a jazz pianist. Rachel Z was raised into a musical family. With an opera singing mother, Z began voice lessons at the mere age of two, and took piano lessons when she was seven. In her mid-teens, Rachel discovered Miles Davis' Miles Smiles, whose improvisational works diverted her from her classical roots. In 1979 Z's pianistic talent enabled her to attend the Berklee College of Music where she launched the quintet, Nardis, whilst studying with Joanne Brackeen and Richie Beirach. Later Rachel Z graduated from the prestigious New England Conservatory with a 'Distinction in Performance' award in 1984. Meanwhile she was playing professionally in and around Boston in a small group that included George Garzone. 1988, Rachel returned to New York and co-wrote Tokyo Blue with schoolmate turned pro-saxophonist Najee and then playe