Rez Abbasi Out Of Body CD

" Out Of Body is one of the most refreshing small-group jazz recordings in recent memory. Substantial and evocative." - Planet Jazz" Out Of Body should reaffirm Abbasi's increasing stature within the modern jazz community, 4 Stars." - Downbeat Magazine" Abbasi writes stunning compositions and plays dazzling solos. Remarkable." - Jazziz"Out Of Body is wildly imaginative. A must for any serious collection." - Toronto StarHeralded as one of the foremost modern jazz guitarist by many publications including, Down Beat, Jazztimes, Signal To Noise and The Toronto Star, Rez Abbasi's music is considered genre bending. The All Music Guide has referred to Abbasi as "One of the most virtuosic guitarist in New York.", giving "Out Of Body" 4 1/2 stars.Rez's music crosses boundaries in every direction. Originally born on the Indian sub-continent but brought up in the states, Rez has had the privilege to embrace many musical land scapes. It is natural that his music is fortified with straight rhythms and grooves as well as swing pulses. After graduating from the Manhattan School of Music with a scholarship, Rez began touring. His performances have been many including the New Orleans Jazz Festival, French Radio, Tri C Jazz Festival, West Canadian Jazz Festivals, The Blue Note (NY), Kniting Factory , Joe's Pub etc..He has performed with among others, Ruth Brown, Billy Hart, Marvin"Smitty"Smith, Rick Margitza, Ken Werner, Michael Formanek, Gary Thomas and Lonnie Plaxico.

Out of Body is guitarist Rez Abbasi's third outing as a leader, and his most focused and mature work to date. Joined by tenor/soprano saxophonist Tony Malaby, trumpeter Ron Horton, bassist John Hebert, and drummer Bruce Hall, Abbasi again relies on eclectic, advanced compositional devices and a sparkling solid-body guitar tone to convey his message. He opts for some biting overdrive on the opening "To Your Perfection" and the dark, hypnotically grooving "Ganges." (The latter, about halfway through, falls to a hush for a remarkable Horton soliloquy.) Abbasi also plays acoustic guitar beautifully on the two ballads, "Phosphor Colors" and "Smile at Darkness," creating moments of sparse, elevated dialogue with the rhythm section. And he launches an inspired round robin of solos with the horns on the swinging "Gold Rush." "Half the Battle," one of the more ambitious tracks, plays out like a suite in three parts, even though it's under eight minutes long. Other highlights include the three-plus-four groove of the title track, the freebop frenzy of "Winner's Circle," and the slow, quirky shuffle of the closing "Dark Bones," an effective feature for Hebert. An intricate, unpredictable, and cleanly recorded statement by one of New York's most virtuosic (and underrated) guitarists. ~ David R. Adler

Personnel: Rez Abbasi (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, tabla, percussion); Tony Malaby (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); Ron Horton (trumpet, flugelhorn); John Herbert (double bass); Bruce Hall (drums, percussion).