Rez Abbasi RA

“An amazing guitarist... unique and beautiful music - and best of all - very original....I’m really impressed.” Pat Metheny

“Great music - the writ- ing and playing... and most of all, the concept." David Liebman photo: John Rogers

Biography

Voted #1 Rising Star Guitarist in the 2013 Rez is musical director, arranger and pro- Bazaar. DownBeat Critics Poll and placed in the ducer for Indian/Canadian multiple Juno Bazaar continues the group’s journey "top-ten Guitarists" in 2015's poll, Rez award winning vocal sensation, Kiran through territories unheard in today’s Abbasi continues to push boundaries. Ahluwalia. Kiran’s 2008 recording, “Wan- jazz/world music scene. Born in Karachi, Pakistan, removed at derlust” was in the top ten European the age of four to the vastness of South- world-music radio charts and also was Producing so vivid a music that it can al- ern California, schooled at the University of among the top-ten albums of 2008 in most be tasted, Abbasi sounds like no one who has gone before him. His composi- Southern California and the Manhattan Song-Lines Magazine. Another of Abbasi’s tions are sheer genius...All About Jazz School of Music in jazz and classical music, highly regarded associations is with herald- along with a pilgrimage in India under the ed saxophonist, Rudresh Mahanthappa. tutelage of master percussionist, Ustad Alla Rez plays an integral role in Mahanthappa’s Abbasi’s sixth album, Things To Come Rakha, Rez Abbasi is a vivid synthesis of all Indo-Pak Coalition and Kinsmen Ensemble. (Sunnyside, 2009) is yet another leap into the above stated influences and genres. Rez can also be heard as a member of unchartered musical territory. It features a many others projects. star studded group of Vijay Iyer, Rudresh Making New York home for the past 25 Mahanthappa, Kiran Ahluwalia, Johannes years, Abbasi has developed a unique With twelve albums of mostly original Weidenmueller and Dan Weiss and was sound both as a composer and an instru- compositions under his belt, Abbasi contin- included in DownBeat’s top CD’s of the ues to find new groups of musicians to mentalist and is considered by many to be decade. The same year he was awarded help his musical vision come to life. His one of the foremost modern jazz guitar the prestigious Chamber Music America Snake Charmer, players the world over. He has honed his 2005 recording creat- Grant as a commission to compose new skills with performances throughout Eu- ed a stir in the music world partly due to his works for the same ensemble, rope, Canada, the U.S., Mexico and India. organic, original approach in blending two Invocation. He has performed and recorded with many complex musical genres together, namely jazz greats including, Grammy winner Ruth jazz and Indian music. The provocative At the end of 2009, Abbasi formed a new Brown, Peter Erskine, Kenny Werner, Barre instrumentation of organ, drums and guitar quartet. The Rez Abbasi Acoustic Quartet, Phillips, Tim Berne, Michael Formanek, Billy alongside Indian vocalist Ahluwalia, is on or RAAQ, was conceived for the purposes Hart, Marvin 'Smitty' Smith, Gary Thomas, one hand, a sound grounded in jazz and of featuring Abbasi’s acoustic guitar tal- Dave Douglas, Rudresh Mahanthappa, yet uncommon in jazz arenas. 20th Cen- ents. Simultaneously, it serves as an outlet Mike Clark, Tony Malaby, George Brooks, tury Guitar reviewed the CD as, "One of to feature his compositions alongside Ronu Majumdar, Kadri Gopalnath, Vishwa the best examples yet of how to merge “gems from other composers that are Mohan Bhatt, Marilyn Crispell, Greg Osby, Indian Classical music with jazz...Snake rarely heard today.” Abbasi was well Howard Levy and a host of others. Charmer really breaks new ground." In aware of creating a group that would 2007, Rez achieved even greater heights magnify and enhance his acoustic guitar with the follow up to Snake Charmer, www.RezTone.com Abbasi soon re-employed his acoustic quartet, RAAQ for another album. Intents & Purposes (enja, 2015) Press Quotes acoustically recasts classic jazz-rock music from the ‘70s, a genre Rez initially was not a fan of due to its over use of synthesiz- “ True fusion music from a great Pakistani- ers. He used a fretless guitar to highlight his America guitarist: jazz and rock and Pak- love for microtonality. Rez was featured in istani music in a great, ingenious the Wall Street Journal, DownBeat and amalgam.” - Popmatters.com JazzTimes. "Miraculously, Abbasi gets it exactly right. In the summer of 2016 Abbasi will release an album with his new group, Junction. Out of all the different elements arises a Behind the Vibration(Cuneiform), is the singular and distinctive statement. Conse- sound - calling upon vibraphonist, Bill Ware inverse of Intents & Purposes in that it is a quently the music convinces and enchants (Steely Dan), bassist, Stephan Crump (Vijay full-blown electric album of all originals. on every level." - All About Jazz Iyer Trio) and drummer, Eric McPherson With Mark Shim on tenor sax & midi wind- (Andrew Hill). RAAQ’s debut, Natural Se- controller, Ben Stivers on keyboards, B3 & “Abbasi's adroit soloing and lean, evolving lection (Sunnyside, 2010) captures the pro- Rhodes, Kenny Growhowski on drums and tunes are generated by exceptional reach found sensitivity of the ensemble as it Rez employing overdrive and effects, the and a very musical passion." twists and turns through the set, featuring music moves in very unpredictable ways. - New York Press the standout textural cascades created between acoustic guitar and vibraphone. The album was included in JazzTimes’ and “Abbasi creates a sinuous, sometimes NPR’s ‘best of’ the year lists and the New haunting and always evocative blend of York Times did a feature review of the CD contemporary jazz and Asian influences.” release concert. RAAQ performed at the - Time Out NY 2010 Newport Jazz Festival which was recorded and broadcasted several times on "Abbasi's unpredictable phrasing and NPR’s JazzSet with Dee Dee Bridgewater. accomplished writing are what sets him apart from hordes of other technically In 2010, Abbasi reconvened his group, adept guitarists." Invocation to record the follow-up to - Bill Milkowski Suno Suno (enja, 2011) Things To Come. features his new CMA commissioned “Mr. Abbasi succeeded in making some compositions that are informed by fairly cerebral intricacies feel intuitive and Qawwali - spiritual music from Pakistan. The power, joy and depth that Qawwali touched by a higher source.” encompasses can be heard throughout - New York Times Suno Suno. The album was included on multiple top-ten lists of 2011. "Stimulating new music. Is this soul-jazz,

post-bop, fusion, Indian music, or world As a response to Invocation, with its ex- fusion? The answer has to be: All of them tended ensemble and highly complex com- and none of them.” positions, Abbasi felt the need to do a 4 1/2 stars - All Music Guide more intimate project. His new trio was formed and it includes long time cohorts, "As jazz increasingly admits sounds from bassist, John Hebért (Andrew Hill) and drummer, Satoshi Takeishi (Eliane Elias). around the globe, Abbasi's efforts rank

Continuous Beat(enja, 2013), is his first among the freshest and most compelling. trio outing and the results are brimming Compositions that stand alone in today's with adventure and subtlety. Along with his jazz.”- The Ottawa Citizen cutting edge compositions, the trio reinter- prets music of Monk, Jarrett and others, "Eye popping, dazzling virtuosity with using guitar electronic manipulation. As he considerable writing chops." states, “I wanted to excite the listener with - Signal to Noise a new guitar trio experience. One that re- tains the warmth of the established trio “Though his chops are indeed impressive, sound but also employs electronics in order listeners will more likely be taken with the to expand the timbral palette, especially for the melodies. Ultimately, this approach not intricacy and intrigue of his compositions.” only gives clarity to the solos but also - Hot House NY keeps the listener’s aural sense stimulated.”

www.RezTone.com