Continuous Beat Rez Abbasi Trio

• 1Introduction02:34
• 2Divided Attention04:30
• 3Major Major07:18
• 4Rivalry07:46
• 5Itexture05:53
• 6The Cure08:48
• 7Off Minor07:13
• 8Back Skin06:00
• 9Star Spangled Banner02:31
• Total Runtime52:33

Info for Continuous Beat

“The members of this trio have toured together intermittently for the last 15 years. The group came together auspiciously. What makes this album special for us is that it captures our first period of playing together as a trio. Also it is my first trio album to date. In my case the electric guitar presents endless amounts of creating textural and manipulative possibilities. My desire to to stretch and think a little “outside the box”, or in this case inside the boxes/pedals was key in fashioning a trio sound that is acoustically warm and also electrically charged.”

During 2012 Rez Abbasi was busy working in the US and Canada in many locations, had an exposure at the North Sea Festival in the Netherlands, and also appeared with his wife, renowned worldmusic vocalist Kiran Aluhwalia in many countries.

“Abbasi sounds like no one who has gone before him. His compositions are sheer genius.” (AllAboutJazz)

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

“Rez Abbasi shows an uncanny flair with no categorical party line. A fresh voice worth hearing.” (JazzTimes)

Rez Abbasi, guitars
John Hébert, acoustic bass
Satoshi Takeishi, drums & percussion
John Stafford Smith, composer

For over a decade, Rez Abbasi has been blazing a new trail as a leading figure in cutting-edge South Asian-American jazz. A quicksilver guitarist who melds jazz with the musical strains of his Pakistani heritage, including the music of Qawwali, his work spans far and wide, including performances with Rudresh Mahanthappa’s Indo-Pak Coalition (at the Flynn in 2011), Vijay Iyer (at the 2012 Burlington Discover Jazz Festival), and Indian vocalist Kiran Ahluwalia. Abbasi and his elite quintet perform music from his latest album, Suno Suno, along with new compositions that create the perfect hybrid of modern jazz and world inflections.

Born in Karachi, Pakistan, removed at the age of four to the vastness of Southern California, schooled at the University of Southern California and the Manhattan School of Music in jazz and classical music, along with a pilgrimage in India under the tutelage of master percussionist, Ustad Alla Rakha, Rez Abbasi is a vivid synthesis of all the above stated influences and genres. Making New York home for the past 20 years, Abbasi has developed a unique sound both as a composer and an instrumentalist and is considered by many to be one of the foremost modern jazz guitar players the world over. He has honed his skills with performances throughout Europe, Canada, the U.S., Mexico and India. He has performed and recorded with many jazz greats including, Grammy winner Ruth Brown, Peter Erskine, Kenny Werner, Barre Phillips, Tim Hagans, Marc Johnson, Billy Hart, Marvin ‘Smitty’ Smith, Gary Thomas, Dave Douglas, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Mike Clark, Tony Malaby, George Brooks, Ronu Majumdar, Kadri Gopalnath, Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Marilyn Crispell, Greg Osby, Howard Levy and a host of others.

With nine albums of original compositions under his belt, Rez Abbasi continues to find new groups of musicians to help his musical vision come to life. In 2011, Abbasi reconvened his group, Invocation, to record the follow-up to Things To Come. Suno Suno (Enja, 2011) features his new CMA commissioned compositions that are informed by Qawwali – praise music from Pakistan. The power, joy and depth that Qawwali encompasses can be heard throughout Suno Suno. The album made it on multiple top ten lists of 2011. As a response to Invocation, with its extended ensemble and highly complex compositions, Abbasi felt the need to do a more intimate project. His new trio was formed and it includes long time cohorts, bassist, John Hebert (Andrew Hill) and drummer, Satoshi Takeishi (Eliane Elias). Continuous Beat (Enja, 2012) is Abbasi’s first trio outing and the results are brimming with adventure and subtlety. Along with his cutting edge compositions, the trio reinterprets Monk’s, Off Minor, Jarrett’s, The Cure and others, using guitar electronic manipulation. As he states, “I wanted to excite the listener with a new guitar trio experience. One that retains the warmth of the established trio sound but also employs electronics in order to expand the timbral pallet, especially for the melodies. Ultimately, this approach not only gives clarity to the solos but also keeps the listener’s aural sense stimulated.” Voted #2 “Rising Star” guitarist in Down Beat’s 2012 esteemed Critic’s Poll, Rez Abbasi is indeed shining bright.

This album contains no booklet.