Drum Legend Omar Hakim Recovering from Recent Illness, Lenny White to Step in for Upcoming Tour Dates.
RACHEL Z, keyboardist, synthesist. Grammy-winning, Grammy-nominated with a long history of award-winning performances in the worlds of jazz and rock. Rachel has released 13 albums as bandleader and been a crucial part of countless tours and recordings including Steps Ahead, Vertú, the Omar Hakim Experience, OZmosys, Wayne Shorter, Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller, Terri Lyne Carrington, Al Di Meola, and Regina Carter. Her years of touring with Peter Gabriel include appearances in his live films Growing Up Live & Still Growing Up Live. She is Professor of Jazz, Contemporary Music Studies and Electronic Music, variously at New School University NYC, Montclair State University and Cali School of the Arts.
Lenny White has played with virtually everyone in the music business and has co-created some of the most influential music over the past three decades. He has also, expanded and reinvented his career by becoming a great producer. Alternating between drummer and producer and always on the cutting edge of the music scene, Lenny has been continually pushing the musical envelope.
He has collaborated with many of jazz music's greatest artists. Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, Ron Carter, and Joe Henderson, to name only a few. More in About Lenny.
It was the late great, Miles Davis "Bitches Brew", that launched his Career and with the world renown fusion group "Return to Forever", he developed his chops. His major influence was Tony Williams. As Lenny puts it, he is "the person I channel whatever it is I do on the drums through". Besides, experimenting with Hip Hop tracks and working on a soon to be released compilation record (which, will include a never before released live "Return to Forever"performance).
Lenny is currently, composing an Opera, which he views as a lifelong work.
What's more, jazz music inspires millions of people all over the world. In some cultures, like Native Americans , for example, people express their identity through jazz. They tell stories about resilience, history, and community through sound, which creates a bridge between cultures.
The Rock N’ Roll Collective is a powerhouse group of exceptionally talented young musicians between the ages of 13 and 18. Designed for students who have outgrown traditional music education programs like School of Rock, the Collective offers a professional-level environment where emerging artists can develop their craft and gain real-world performance experience.
Founded by veteran audio engineer and producer Jeremy Gerard, the Collective is music-directed by renowned industry professionals Rachel Z Hakim, Omar Hakim, Mike Pellegrino, and Ben Moyer.
Collective members have performed on tour across the US & Europe. In 2025, Collective members completed US & European tours with Frank Zappa alumni and embarked on a separate European tour with Gibby Haynes of the Butthole Surfers.
The Rock N’ Roll Collective is not just a band — it's a launchpad for the next generation of world-class musicians.
