Bazaar

Rez Abbasi

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 14, 2006)
• Original Release Date: November 14, 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Zoho Music
• ASIN: B000J3EBF8
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #248,428 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

"Unique and beautiful music--and best of all--very original." - PAT METHENY Pakistani/American guitarist Rez Abbasi's fifth jazz CD, and his first on ZOHO. New York guitarist Rez Abbasi is a vivid synthesis of his varied influences: born in Pakistan, exposed to the surf sounds of California at age four, and schooled at the Manhattan School of Music as well as with master percussionist Ustad Alla Rakha. Abbasi has performed or recorded with many jazz greats including Grammy winner Ruth Brown, Peter Erskine, Kenny Werner, Barre Phillips, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another winner from Rez Abbasi, February 17, 2007

By	Jan P. Dennis "Longboard jazzer" (Monument, CO USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

The transplanted Pakistani surf-guitar maestro strikes again with perhaps his finest disc to date.

Rez Abbasi, born of Pakistani parents, reared in SoCal, emigrant to New York, plies his unique Middle-Eastern organ-trio jazz (ably augmented by saxists Rudresh Mahanthappa and Mark Mommaas, hand drummer Guatam Siram, and Indian vocalist Kiran Ahluwalia) to great effect in this his fifth outing as leader.

Scores of different moods flit across the listener's aural horizon: the chaos of a modern "Bazaar," the suave sensuality of "Leather," the oxymoronic vibe of "Thin Elephant," juxtaposing, one supposes, modern Mid-East sensibilities with centuries-old traditions, and featuring very effective sitar-guitar stylings and mesmeric wordless vocals, the quietly hectic vibe of "Life Goes," featuring some very neat organ work from Gary Versace, the casually evoked folkloric fabric of "You People," the hard-won triumphs of "Mid-Life," undergirt by haunting vocals, dual-sax forays, and Mesopotamian percussion, the way-mysterioso feel of "Hindu-Myth," probably not accessible by most Westerners but still exuding a huge, ancient gravitas, and the impossibly staid exuberance of "Destiny Owes You."

All the while, beguiling leader-sideman smart and seamless interaction guides the proceedings into seldom-if-ever encountered precincts of felicity, no one grabbing the spotlight, but everyone finding their optimal role in this magical mystery dance.

This is unique world jazz, deftly melding Eastern sensibilities with a true jazz spirit. Not to be missed.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No Surf Influence., December 12, 2008

By	Rez Abbasi - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Thanks guys for your nice comments.

Just to set the record straight, I am NOT influenced by "surf music". The liner notes say I grew up in Southern California near the beach and did BTW, surf. Influences here are jazz, classical and Indian music.
All the best.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Indian, Jazz, Surf Guitar Music fusion, December 8, 2008

By	Scott Williams "sneakyneighborsdog" (Oakland, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Overview:

Bazaar is a fascinating jazz album that combines elements of Indian music, surf music, and jazz organ into a unique soundscape. The primary performers on the CD are Rez Abassi on guitar, Gary Versace on hammond organ, and Danny Weiss on drums & tabla. Kiran Ahluwalia provides Indian vocals on tracks 2,3,7, while Rudresh Mahanthappa and Marc Mommaas add saxes on tracks 1 and 7. The overall mood of the album is mellow, reflective, explorative, and trance like. When thinking of guitarists to compare Abassi to, I am most reminded of Gabor Szabo. Throughout the album Versace and Abassi have great chemistry. They frequently trade meandering, noodling solos. You can really get lost in this music if you want to. Finally the album has a great variety of sounds thank in part to the various special guests.

Song Highlights:

Bazaar - this is the most "surf music" insired piece. Special guest Rudresh Mahanthappa provides some blistering alto sax on this piece. If you like this track, check out Mahanthappa's album kinsmen which features Abassi.

You People - Great chemistry between organist Versace and Abassi here. This brings up memories of Jimmy Smith and Wes Montgomery.

Mid Life - This track features gorgeous vocals by Kiran Ahluwalia and some killer guitar/sax interaction between Mahanthappa and Abassi. Also there are nice solos by Versace and Mommas as well. A long track with lots of killer solos... very nice.