To be a musician is to have authenticity. Amidst myriads of notable contemporary artists, pioneering jazz guitarist and composer Rez Abbasi has checked that box from the onset of his emergence in the jazz music scene. His sincere love for music led him to find his niche where he weaves the stories of ancient rhythms through the lens of modern sensibility. Music is more than sound in his world. It’s an intricate and entwined net of traditional and innovative ideas. Abbasi’s virtuosic improvisation on the guitar has made him one of the most distinctive and stylistic guitarists in the contemporary jazz scene.
Rez Abbasi was born in Karachi, Pakistan. At the age of four, he moved to Southern California. By the age of 11, he had already taken up his preferred instrument, the guitar. Initially, he fell in love with rock music and he played in rock bands in his early teen years. His passion for the guitar kept on growing as he immersed himself in multiple genres and It didn’t take him long to discover jazz. He was drawn to the freedom of expression jazz had to offer. Inspired by vocalist Ella Fitzgerald, guitarist Joe Pass and many other legendary artists, Abbasi’s pursuit of his own sui generis “voice” was put on a higher gear.
Abbasi attended the University of Southern California and later at the Manhattan School of Music in New York. He honed his skill as a guitarist and with utmost curiosity, he delved into jazz and classical music. After graduating, he went to India and studied under renowned Indian tabla player Ustad Alla Rakha. Abbasi has always nurtured a keen interest in the music of India and Pakistan which incited his desire for an east-west fusion style.
Abbasi’s music has an innate hypnotic quality to it. It is absorbing and engaging; it is inherently philosophical and always mutating. Yet, all of his compositions showcase the authenticity he strived for. One way to unveil the root of this could be found in his collaborative works. Abbasi is a beast when it comes to collaboration. Throughout the career that spans over decades, he has joined hands with innumerable acclaimed and revered musicians. He never lost himself among other influential artists and retained his true artistry on every stage he shared with others. His authenticity, thus, stood the test of time and morphed into something akin to a touchstone.
Rez Abbasi has offered an eclectic oeuvre to avid listeners globally. It is, unsurprisingly, a herculean task to choose his best albums. Yet, the following five albums are worthy of being mentioned as prime examples of his flawless career to this date.
Snake Charmer
Earth Sounds LLC, 2005
Snake Charmer stands out among other albums from Abbasi (part of our Best of 2005). As a fusion album, it does merge his characteristic Indian classical influences with modern jazz but in a more involved manner. Melody, harmony and rhythm – all of these fundamental aspects of music are armed seamlessly with Indian ragas and rhythms. In Abbasi’s hands, this approach to fusion is more about unifying the two approaches into a completely new and distinct one. A deep understanding of both traditions by the musicians is palpable from Abbasi’s virtuosic playing, Danny Weiss’ use of tabla and Kiran Ahluwalia’s vocals accompanied by Tanpura. In collaboration with David Liebman this timeless album pushes the boundaries of world music and jazz.
Rez Abbasi: guitar, sitar, percussion; Gary Versace: organ; Dan Weiss: drums, tabla
Released December 1, 2005
Discover next: The 10 Best Indo Jazz Albums
Things to Come
Sunnyside Records, 2009
Things to Come is an immaculate exploration of jazz improvisation. It features an ensemble, including Rudresh Mahanthappa and pianist Vijay Iyer. This notable album is rich in textural layering and brilliant use of advanced harmony as well as sophisticated meters. These quintessential qualities can be heard in tracks like “Hard Colors” and “Realities Of Chromaticism,” where Eastern melodies intertwine with intricate jazz harmonies showcasing his mastery towards the art of composing.
Rez Abbasi: guitar; Rudresh Mahanthappa: alto saxophone; Vijay Iyer: piano; Johannes Weidenmeuller: acoustic bass; Dan Weiss: drums; Kiran Ahluwalia: vocals; Mike Block: cello
Released August 25, 2009
Suno Suno
Enja Records, 2011
Suno Suno is Abbasi’s second album with his Invocation band. The spiritual and devotional nature of Pakistani Qawwali is what much of the music of this album grew from. He makes use of the rich rhythmic structures of qawwali and the raga-based melodies of South Asian music. It also draws inspiration from the music of the Sufi tradition and incorporates it with jazz, subsequently creating a meditative soundscape. The album’s title, which translates to “Listen, Listen,” reflects the spiritual nature of the compositions. Tracks like “Thanks for Giving” stand out for their spiritual depth and emotive quality.
Rez Abbasi: guitar/compositions; Rudresh Mahanthappa: alto saxophone; Vijay Iyer: piano; Johannes Weidenmueller: bass; Dan Weiss: drums
Released October 12, 2011
Continuous Beat
Enja Records, 2012
This album showcases Abbasi’s deep connection to contemporary jazz, but not without the subtle incorporation of elements from his South Asian heritage. Continuous Beat is more of a trio-focused work, featuring John Hébert on bass and Satoshi Takeishi on drums.
This album can be characterized as Abbasi’s exploration of modern jazz–but with a nod to his unique musical voice. Along with five original compositions, It includes compositions from Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, Theloneus Monk and JS Smith. Despite being confined in a somewhat minimalistic setup, there is no shortage of complex melodies and engaging grooves in tracks such as “Divided Attention” and “Back Skin.”
Rez Abbasi: guitars; John Hebert: bass; Satoshi Takeishi: drums
Released October 1, 2012
Discover next: The Best Jazz Guitarists
Unfiltered Universe
Whirlwind Recordings, 2017
The third instalment of recordings with his supergroup Invocations, Unfiltered Universe is one of Abbasi’s most ambitious projects. It features the enchanting fusion of jazz with Carnatic music (South Indian classical tradition). The album features a stellar lineup which includes Vijay Iyer, Rudresh Mahanthappa, and Dan Weiss on drums. This action-packed album retains all the qualities that Abbasi is known for – complex rhythm with shifting meters and syncopation. The dark yet clean tone of the guitar maintains a lyrical quality. For example, the standout track “Thin-King” has a profound stylistic use of Indian rhythmic cycles within a jazz framework. This highly improvisational work is fundamentally based on the idea of “let the influences hit the empty canvas.”
Rez Abbasi: guitar; Vijay Iyer: piano; Rudresh Mahanthappa: alto saxophone; Johannes Weidenmueller: double bass; Dan Weiss: drums | Elizabeth Mikhael: cello
Released October 6, 2017
Final Words
“Whether it’s jazz, Indian-classical music, Brazilian samba, it doesn’t matter. I just want some authenticity in the music before we start venturing off, because that’s where I come from.”
–Rez Abbasi
In his words, Abbasi presents a succinct summary of who he is and where his musicality stems from. In each of the phases of his career, he showcased his growth as a musician and his relevance to the contemporary jazz scene. Right at the core of the complexities of rhythm and the expansiveness of melody, Abbasi has always been a virtuosic improviser who narrates his impromptu stories through music.