Modern Memory
© Copyright-Feroza Music
(659057360324)
Record Label: Feroza Music
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Heralded New York jazz guitarist Rez Abbasi re-releases his work "Modern Memory" with two previously unreleased cuts, including a far out version
of Monk's "Four In One". MM represents Abbasi's most textural avante-garde recording.
Featured throughout the CD is saxophone giant Gary Thomas with bassist Michael Formanek, trumpeter Tim Hagans and former Elvin Jones disciple, Tony Moreno. Dazzling acoustic guitar work as well as clean jazz tone are emphasized with plenty of chops, accute phrasing and melodious content.
Jazziz recently called Abbasi's composing and playing "Remarkable". He is called "One of New York's most virtuosic guitarist." by the All Music Guide to Jazz.
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author: Doug Martin
"Modern Memory" jumps right up in your face with the hyper-Latin "Serie de arco" with Rez Abbasi digging deep on his nylon-stringed guitar. When playing steel-string acoustic, electric, or effect-laden electric, Abbasi touches on each corner of the Trinity (Metheny, Scofield, Frisell) but establishes his own voice both as a composer and performer. Gary Thomas, who contributes tenor sax to some tracks, hands in a beautiful flute solo on "Every Sunday". Michael Formanek, a player of monsterous skill, has one of his best recorded performances here. His bass is tight, punchy and aggressive (when it needs to be). The same can be said of drummer Tony Moreno who must have a few extra limbs to produce the amount of percussion that is heard here - the stratospheric level of interplay between Moreno and Formanek is scary. The whole ensemble cuts loose on "Third Ear" with Thomas' tenor and Tim Hagans' trumpet scrambling the melody as the rhythm section charges forward. Abbasi lists his "three greatest inspirations: John Coltrane, Keith Jarrett and Jim Hall" in the liner notes. You can hear them in the music as well.
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