Sex, Love & Sensuality In Jazz: An Interview With Rachel Z

It's time to change the conversation

Michelle Mercer

May 12, 2023

∙ Paid

Cross-post from Call & Response with Michelle Mercer

I want to share this frank and unfiltered dialogue between keyboardist Rachel Z and music writer Michelle Mercer with subscribers to The Honest Broker. This is one of the bravest pieces of music journalism you will read on Substack (or elsewhere). They don't teach these things at music school—but maybe they should. And if you're a music fan, you ought to consider subscribing to Mercer's Substack. -

Ted Gioia

2002, Tone Center Records, Photo: Samuel Elijah

When I taught a Wayne Shorter course last fall, the first guest lecturer I contacted was composer and pianist Rachel Z. Few people know just how closely Rachel worked with Wayne on compositions for his High Life album. Even fewer know that Rachel moved into Wayne’s LA home in the mid-90s, becoming family to…