PRESS

"Abbasi now sees his sixth album as a leader hit the streets, and it's exceptional. Not just because of the badass group he assembled -- though it does help -- but because Abbasi's own talent as a composer, arranger and player. "

"Things to Come" is the strong new statement from Rez Abbasi, a Pakistani-American guitarist with a taste for fluid introspection and slippery fusions."

"The guitarist creates little puzzles for his team to solve, and the lyricism they bring to their collective efforts makes the process both enjoyable and fascinating."

"If part of jazz's appeal centers on the way tension is both created and crushed, the guitarist's new Things To Come should capture a fair amount of listeners.
His connection to cohorts Rudresh Mahanthappa and Vijay Iyer is deep, and their interplay generates little swirls of melody that erupt into full-blown storms before
you even know the wind is blowing. That's partly due to Abbasi's pen—his tunes are mathy (and slightly M-BASEd) without being monotonous.

"Abbasi's compositions are highly sophisticated and complex, containing myriad polyrhythmic crosscurrents and dynamic shifts. His guitar playing is magnificent and his superb phrasing and ornamentation elevate him into the empyrean realms of fusion mastery."

"Of all the recent experiments blending music from South Asia with jazz, "Things to Come" may be the most elegant and seamless. This music, superbly conceived and played, makes far-flung diversity feel like the mainstream of its art."

"By adding ideas from the lengthy history of music on the Indian sub-continent, Abbasi is able to develop a unique and fascinating conception for his music. This is exotic and exciting while still being accessible, and it is very fresh and thoughtfully produced."

"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 our own understandings of “East” and “West”. "

"Bazaar finds the excellent guitarist Rez Abbasi leading a tight combo through a brisk collection of elegantly unfolding Indo-fusion jazz charts. The music is intricate but open-ended and the Indian flavors are refreshingly subtle throughout. There's plently to chew on here, even after several listens. "

"Abbasi is penning killer compositions such as "You People," which is as musically rich as it is pensively cool. Bazaar is a heartfelt, provocative, and rewarding platter that just might rehab the once-edgy, now-besmirched image of fusion. Abbasi's the prime example of what it takes to have a genuinely global sound. "

"Bazaar is a great record-the writing and playing and most of all the concept."

"Abbasi shows a high level of ability in merging the improvisational aspects of both jazz and Indian improvisational forms. Highly recommended!"

"Snake Charmer is one of the best albums of 2005. It certainly makes my list of the years top ten."

"I have not uttered the word “WOW” during a new CD track for quite a while but I did during Snake Charmer. Go and get it !!!!"

"Impressively articulated, rhythmically captivating and lyrical ...the mesmerizing sounds of this latest creative musical matrix is surely Abbasi's genuine identity."

"One of the New York jazz scene's best-kept secrets..If you are a fan of Shakti, Trilok Gurtu and other world-jazz fusion masters, you will probably be knocked out by this record! "

"Invigorating and graceful playing, unpredictable and fascinating compositions... Abbasi is a rarity. "

"One of the best examples yet of how to merge Indian music with jazz...Snake Charmer really breaks new ground."

"An intricate, unpredictable, and cleanly recorded statement by one of New York's most virtuosic guitarists." 4 1/2 Stars

"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"

"Out Of Body is an extremely impressive work, tremendous imagination and impressive technique."

"Intriguing grooves, gorgeous melodies."

"Modern Memory is Fascinating."

'Third Ear has to be one of the most intelligently conceived debuts ever done. It’s a magical disc."