Rachel Eckroth

Pianist, singer and composer Rachel Eckroth spent the last decade working in Las Vegas and New York City. Recently relocated to her native Phoenix, Arizona, she is quickly becoming one of the most in-demand musicians in the Valley. She performs frequently with her own jazz trio and is the keyboardist with the Khani Cole band (www.khanicole.com). Her first CD was released in 2005, entitled Mind, and Rachel’s latest CD is due out later in 2008.

While in Las Vegas, Eckroth performed regularly in shows and local music venues. She has played backup keyboards with artists ranging from Marlena Shaw, Ernie Watts, Bob Florence, Louie Bellson, Johnny Pate and Bobby Shew to David Cassidy.

In New York she worked as a sideman with the Tia Fuller Quintet, the Russ Spiegel Big Band, and actor John Ventimiglia of “The Sopranos.” While leading her own groups, Rachel has performed at NYC venues such as Jazz Gallery, Blue Note, Knitting Factory, Smoke, Night and Day, Jules Bistro, Deerhead Inn and the Garage.

Part of Rachel’s early career was launched as part of the Sisters in Jazz group sponsored by the International Association of Jazz Educators. This group performed at the 1999 IAJE festival, the Kennedy Center, and the Monterey Jazz Festival. Many of her big band pieces were recorded by the UNLV Jazz Ensemble on an album called Coloring Outside the Lines (TNC Jazz), a CD which received five stars in Down Beat magazine and was voted one of the best that year (see Down Beat, January, 2000).

What others are saying about Rachel Eckroth:

"... the pianist's writing, touch, and ideas all loom large."
- Jazziz Magazine

"...a composer/performer obviously influenced and firmly rooted in the tradition yet makes her own statement in a uniquely elegant manner."
- Thomas Erdmann, Jazzreview.com

Style: Contemporary jazz

Performs: Solo, duo, trio, quartet and nontet

Bookings: info@southwestartistmanagement.com

Links: Coming soon...

Albums: Mind, 2005