Zoe Rahman's Kindred Spirits

Zoe Rahman piano, Idris Rahman clarinet, US drummer Gene Calderazzo and bassist Davide Mantovani : Thursday evening 2 February

Want to see a clip from Zoe Rahman's Kindred Spirits at Seven Arts on 2nd Feb 2012? Check them out here playing "Red Squirrel" and "These Foolish Things" here and here 

Popular and highly acclaimed pianist Zoe Rahman shot to wider public awareness when her luminous album Melting Pot was nominated for the 2006 Mercury Music Prize, returns to Seven with her fifth album Kindred Spirits, part of an extensive UK tour. Released on 23 January on her own Manushi label the music continues her vibrant exploration her English, Irish and Bengali heritage combined with her sparkling contemporary piano work and framed by her strong melodic composing style. Her brother Idris (best known for his own groove-heavy band Soothsayers) joins her on clarinet alongside her fine regular rhythm section of London-based US drummer Gene Calderazzo and bassist Davide Mantovani. Rahman has been busy touring with her own band as well as appearing on several other high profile projects that include international tours withCourtney Pine’s stunning Europa band (Pine also guests on her new album), as well as being a member of the expansive Jerry Dammers Spatial AKA Orchestra, and the Way to Blue: the Songs of Nick Drake project that featured the likes of Danny Thompson and Vashti Bunyan.

Commenting on the album Rahman said: “We recorded this album after touring Ireland in 2011, a year that happened to coincide with the 150th birth anniversary of Bengali writer, musician, artist and Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore. These two events account, in part, for my choice of music. Mostly though, it’s a collection of my own compositions from the past couple of years and tunes that I love playing.”