Rez Abbasi Website

Continuous Beat

New York Times The jazz guitarist Rez Abbasi has had a recent run of strong and thoughtful albums, inspired by one or another form of cultural crosstalk. (Born in Pakistan and raised in Southern California, he has built his career in New York.) “Continuous Beat” is his sparsest effort yet, an absorbing trio excursion with the drummer Satoshi Takeishi and the bassist John Hébert, sensitive accompanists capable of dancing in and out of step. Mr. Abbasi’s compositions for the group are slippery but engaging, and he’s judicious with his impressively fluent technique: on Gary Peacock’s “Major Major,” he and his partners ...

Out of Body

"Out Of Body is one of the most refreshing small group recordings in recent memory." - Planet Jazz "An intricate, unpredictable, and cleanly recorded statement by one of New York's most virtuosic guitarists." 4 1/2 Stars - All Music Guide "Wildly imaginative, Out of Body is a must for your collection, guitar fan or no." - Toronto Star "This one's got something for everyone - guitar players, fans of erudite small group writing and arranging or maybe someone who just wants "in" on one of the top releases thus far this year" - All About Jazz "This is smart and unique music. Rez Abbasi infuses his playing and ...

Snake Charmer

"Abbasi's adroit soloing and lean, evolving tunes are generated by exceptional reach and a very musical passion." - The New York Press "Abbasi shows a high level of ability in merging the improvisational aspects of both jazz and Indian improvisational forms. Highly recommended!" - Louisville Music News "Snake Charmer is quite simply, a breakthrough record, both for Abbasi and for the fusing of jazz and ethnic concerns, with all its elements on clear display yet perfectly assimilated." - All About Jazz "Snake Charmer is one of the best albums of 2005. It certainly makes my list of the years top ten." - Jacques Emond (Director Ottawa JazzFestival) "A ...

Third Ear

"Third Ear is a noteworthy effort from this jazz gunslinger who possesses an insatiable thirst for captivating the listener with his deeply personalized sound, gargantuan technique and intelligent compositions." - All About Jazz "Third Ear has to be one of the most intelligently conceived debuts ever done. It’s a magical disc." - John Stevenson, Ejazznews "This is unpredictable and uncategorizable Jazz that should satisfy fans of both "Traditional" and "Contemporary" Jazz." - L.A. Jazz Scene

Bazaar

"Stimulating new music. Is this fusion, soul-jazz, Indian music, post-bop or world fusion? The answer has to be: All of them and none of them. Well worth several listens." 4 1/2 Stars - All Music Guide "Abbasi’s phrasing is chain-motific in the manner of, say, Ornette; he makes unusual connections and resolutions at the termini of his lines, occasionally launching into scorching hyperdrive. He and his genre-busting globe-trotters are doing us all a favor: they’re asking where is the music? And in their attempt to improvise answers for us in a fusion and fission of cultural influences, they challenge us to reconsider ...

Continuous Beat

Rez Abbasi's first trio album, out Nov.19th, 2012 on Enja Records. Joining Abbasi is long time cohorts, bassist, John Hébert and drummer, Satoshi Takeishi. They navigate Abbasi's complex originals as well as recontextualizing classics from Jarrett, Monk and Peacock.
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