Rez Abbasi Trio with Kiran Ahluwalia

In recent years, guitarist Rez Abbasi has gained notoriety through performances with Dave Douglas, Greg Osby, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Kiran Ahluwalia and many others. His two latest recordings, Snake Charmer (2005) and Bazaar (2006-07) have garnered tremendous attention by critics, musicians, festival producers and radio alike.

"Rez Abbasi is an amazing guitarist with beautiful and original music." Pat Metheny

"A journey through uncharted territory achieving a result unparalleled in today's jazz/world music scene!" - Peter Kuller - Jazz Radio Adelaide 101.5fm

“Abbasi creates a sinuous, sometimes haunting and always evocative blend of contemporary jazz and Asian influences. Fan’s of Shakti and Pat Metheny would be well-advised to lend an ear.” – Time Out (New York)

“ Rez’s music is so accomplished in so many ways, in terms of sheer chops and creativity with improvising ideas. And the songs are really sophisticated.
- Vijay Iyer (Jazztimes blinfold test 2/08)


Originally born on the Indian Sub-continent, Rez and family migrated to the U.S. when he was age four. Growing up in Los Angeles, he discovered jazz music at sixteen when a friend took him to see Ella Fitzgerald with Joe Pass on guitar. Rez soon quit his rock group and began his daily six-hour practice regiment. After spending a few seminal years learning jazz and classical music in the guitar program at USC, Abbasi moved to New York and finished his degree at the Manhattan School of Music. Upon graduation, he took another step in his education with a pilgrimage to India. There he was fortunate to spend time with percussion guru, Ustad Alla Rakha.

Some 18 years later, Rez Abbasi is considered one of the jazz scenes truly great guitarist’s. His New York group Bazaar will be touring throughout the west for the first time, enticing audiences to the band’s unique sound. They will be performing compositions from both recordings, featuring music steeped in jazz, with influences from Indian classical. These influences come in the form of rhythm and melody but also from Juno award winning Indian vocalist, Kiran Ahluwalia. Also in the group is the versatile organ player Sam Barsh (Avishai Cohen) and drum giant, Dan Weiss (Lee Konitz, Dave Binney).

Rez clearly states, “ Because I’ve studied jazz, western classical and Indian music most of my life, this group has a solid foundation to create and improvise from, namely the compositions. I would simply like to call this modern music but I know that’s too vague and so I think the safest category to place it in is probably Global Modern Jazz.”


*In conjunction with the Rez Abbasi Trio’s performance in Victoria, Rez Abbasi will conduct a workshop/clinic at Long & McQuade’s Music Education Centre (2822 Nanaimo St) on Monday, February 25, 4:00-5:15pm for area music students and the general public. As part of the Victoria Jazz Society’s “Student Outreach Program,” registration for this workshop is free. Please contact the Victoria Jazz Society office at 388-4423 to register. Space for this workshop is limited, and available on a first-come, first-serve basis.