SimplyJazzTalk

Hull Suite Live was 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!

press pack supplied by dynamic agency London

A number of albums by Zoe Rahman reside in my collection and I have been fortunate to hear her play live more than once, so I was delighted to be asked to review her latest album release Hull Suite Live. Synergy opens proceedings with strident piano lines built around a recurring motif, excellent support from bassist Alec Dankworth and drummer Gene Calderazzo. Across the Humber and into Out to Sea changes the mood completely: slower in tempo, reflective pieces that capture the idea of the romance of the sea and travelling towards something better than that left behind.

A definite shift dynamically with Piano Story, this tune drives forward with purpose and optimism. The drumming on this number is terrific and works so well with Zoe Rahmans punchy piano delivery: possibly the standout track of Hull Suite Live. Voyage tempers the energy levels but that does not mean that it lacks vibrancy. More wonderful bass work from Alec Dankworth while Zoe Rahman makes full use of the range of the piano. Waves is a delightful piano solo from Zoe in which it would be so easy to imagine her getting lost in as she played.

East Coast is, for me, a great number in the American style of jazz piano. Everything is based around a recurring central through-line. There is a magnificent drum section at the mid point of the tune from which Zoe continues with the main theme along with a solid bass line from Alec – the audience seemed to enjoy this number and it is easy to understand why. Fresh Start has all the positivity and optimism that one might expect from the tunes title – plus another terrific bass solo (I do like a good bass solo!).

I am guessing that the final track of the release, Red Squirrel, is the encore number as I believe it falls outside of the commissioned piece having previously appeared on Zoe’s solo album Deamland. Adding in bass and drums gives the tune a very different feel and colouring – compare and contrast, it’s an interesting exercise.

This is another fine release from Zoe Rahman and an excellent example of a piano led jazz trio. I have long been an admirer of Zoe Rahman’s music and playing and there is nothing about this album that would deminish that admiration. This trio works really well together and I hope, that at some point in time, I get to see and hear this line-up live for myself, but in the meantime I shall be more than content with this Hull Suite Live recording.

Hull Suite Live is released by Manushi Records 10^th July, 2026. Zoe Rahman has “dedicated the world premiere of this suite to a Palestinian taxi driver, Mo, who I met in Hull, and to his family in Gaza. He’d lived in Hull for 35 years and our conversation reminded me of the themes of migration and family that my music was based on and about how the sea can connect us”.

There is an album launch show at The Vortex 10th July, tickets can be purchased online.

Tracklist: 01 – Synergy; 02 – Across The Humber; 03 – Out To Sea; 04 – Piano Story; 05 – Voyage; 06 – Waves; 07 – East Coast; 08 – Fresh Start; 09 – Red Squirrel.

Musicians: Zoe Rahman (piano), Alec Dankworth (bass), Gene Calderazzo (drums).