Continuous Beat Enja****

Born in Pakistan, raised in southern California, now living in New York, guitarist Rez Abbasi is a musical polyglot who draws on a wide range of influences, from rock and heavy metal to southern Asian classical and Sufi devotional music.

He was preparing to make his first trio recording with Paul Motian last year when the legendary drummer’s passing forced a change of plans. So he recruited Japanese drummer Satoshi Takeishi and bassist John Hébert to make an album that, in part, pays tribute to Motian. Alongside the guitarist’s own rugged originals, there are arrangements of tunes by Motian associates Gary Peacock and Keith Jarrett, as well as Monk’s Off Minor, a Motian favourite.

However, Continuous Beat is not really a tribute album. The real subject is Abbasi himself, his appetite for experimentation with sound, and his extraordinary range as a player. reztone.com