Listening to Herbie Hancock's harmonies over Wayne Shorter’s compositions helped her bridge the gap from her classical training to jazz."The way my jazz chops developed was twofold. I developed acoustic straight ahead and electronic fusion playing equally over time," she says. After launching a quintet called Nardis, she studied with Joanne Brackeen and Richie Beirach.
Rachel Z graduated from the New England Conservatory with a 'Distinction in Performance' award while working professionally in the Boston area with performers like Bob Moses, Miroslav Vitous and George Garzone. Returning to New York in 1988, she toured with New England Conservatory schoolmate turned rhythm & jazz superstar saxman Najee and later co-wrote album Tokyo Blue. While performing and recording steadily with the classic fusion band Steps Ahead from 1988 through 1996, she also worked with Al Di Meola, Larry Coryell, Special EFX, and Angela Bofill, and began a fruitful association with producer/vibraphonist Mike Mainieri. Mainieri produced her Columbia Records debut Trust the Universe in 1993. Reflecting the influence of Corea, Hancock, and even Pat Metheny, the CD featured the jazz radio hit 'Nardis.'
Her connection to saxophone great Wayne Shorter grew from major influence to full-blown collaborator over the two years she worked on his hit comeback album High Life, for which she built a synthesized orchestral framework to crystallize his musical vision. Rachel Z also played acoustic piano on the album and was musical director for the tour that followed. The CD won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Jazz Album. 1996 also saw the release of her NYC Records debut A Room of One’s Own, which she dedicated to the many women artists who have played an influential role in her life. Two years later Rachel released an album on GRP, Love is the Power, an album that featured hip-hop grooves with melodic piano flourishes and poems about the search for eternal love and wisdom through music.
Rachel returned to acoustic music, in an all-female trio setting, with On the Milky Way Express, her well-received tribute to Wayne Shorter, in 2000.
Pain
Rachel Z Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why can't i be
Rivers so deep
Dreaming of he
Empty as me
Why must i run
Run from my free
Think only me
Why must i be
Rivers so deep
Dreaming of he
Empty as me
Forever to never
I am more than this
Forever to never
I am more than this
Its a pain its a pain its a difficult pain ohh etc...
Now i must be
Rivers so deep
Deeply i breath
Breath only me
Blinded these eyes
Eyes burned by sun
Sun of your lies
Melted by love
CH forever to never i am more than this
Forever to never i am more than this
BRIDGE-cut off my left arm rather than be strong
I did'nt know you would lie
I didn't see it this time
I died for your cake
I made a mistake
I lost everything
Broken these bones
Bones made of sand
Sand in the wind
Gone with your hand
Mouth me one kiss
Mouth me no lie
Now i forgive
Thus now i try
Spoken my fears
Fears turned to fire
Now let me be
Your instrument of peace
The lyrics of Rachel Z's song "Pain" explores the concept of self-discovery and the pain that comes with it. The song begins with the repetition of the phrase "it's a pain, it's a difficult pain," conveying the struggle that the singer is feeling. She then questions herself, asking why she can't be like deep rivers, dreaming of someone else instead of feeling empty inside. The lyrics reveal her internal conflict, feeling the need to run away from the freedom of being able to think for herself and only think of her own desires.
The chorus repeats the phrase "forever to never, I am more than this," emphasizing the concept of being stuck in a cycle she cannot escape from. She then emphasizes the depth of her thoughts, expressing that she wants to be a deep-river and breathe only for herself. The following lines describe how her eyes have been blinded by the lies and how her heart has been melted by love.
The bridge section talks about how the singer would rather cut off her arm than be strong, reflecting how she is willing to do anything to escape the pain. However, she also acknowledges that she made a mistake by blindly trusting someone, which led to her losing everything she held dear. The next verse describes how her bones are broken and that she is just like the sand in the wind, blown away by the person who caused her pain. She then forgives this person, letting go of the anger she harbors towards them and embracing peace.
Overall, the song is about the struggle one feels when discovering their true self and the pain that comes with it. It speaks about the internal battle one faces, wanting to escape and run but also desiring to get in touch with their true self. The lyrics are heartfelt and reveal the singer's vulnerability, making it relatable to anyone going through a similar experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Why can't i be Rivers so deep
I wish I could be as calm and deep as a river
Dreaming of he Empty as me
I dream of finding someone who is as empty and lost as I am
Why must i run Run from my free Freedom to think Think only me
Why do I run away from my freedom to think about myself and my life?
Why must i be Rivers so deep Dreaming of he Empty as me
Why do I have to be as calm and deep as a river while dreaming of finding someone as lost as me?
Forever to never I am more than this
I am more than just this feeling of emptiness that I am experiencing forever
Now i must be Rivers so deep Deeply i breath Breath only me
Now I need to become as calm and deep as a river, and focus only on my own breath
Blinded these eyes Eyes burned by sun Sun of your lies Melted by love
My eyes have been blinded and burned by the sun of your lies, but my heart has been melted by love
Broken these bones Bones made of sand Sand in the wind Gone with your hand
My bones feel broken, and they are as fragile as sand in the wind, they have been taken away by your hand
Mouth me one kiss Mouth me no lie Now i forgive Thus now i try
Give me a genuine kiss, speak no lies, I forgive you and now I will try again
Spoken my fears Fears turned to fire Now let me be Your instrument of peace
I have verbalized my fears, and now I can use them to ignite my passion for change, let me be a force for peace
Forever to never I am more than this Forever to never I am more than this
I am more than just this feeling of emptiness that I am experiencing forever
BRIDGE-cut off my left arm rather than be strong I did'nt know you would lie I didn't see it this time I died for your cake I made a mistake I lost everything
Even if it meant losing a part of myself, I wish I had been stronger against your lies. I didn't realize you would deceive me this time, I gave everything for your sake, but I made a mistake and lost everything.
Its a pain its a pain its a difficult pain ohh etc...
This feeling of emptiness is a painful and difficult experience for me.
Contributed by Mateo J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.