Rez Abbasi - A Throw of Dice (2019)

Comprehending the vastness of music's evolution over almost a century, even in terms of jazz and world music alone, can be pretty mind-blowing - yet New York-based guitarist/composer Rez Abbasi spans that arc with an original release of quintet music based on 'A Throw of Dice (A Romance of India)', a vintage black-and-white Indian-German silent film from 1929.

'A Throw of Dice' is Abbasi's 13th release and his first film score. It features his group - The Silent Ensemble with saxophonist/flautist Pawan Benjamin, bassist/cellist Jennifer Vincent, Carnatic percussionist Rohan Krishnamurthy and drummer Jake Goldbas. explains Rez, "The film is simply amazing - the last and widely regarded as the best in a trilogy made by German director Frank Osten - shot in dramatic locations within Rajasthan with 'jungle' animals and a cast of thousands."

Inspired by ragas and Indian rhythms, Abbasi has created a sequence of richly aromatic soundscapes which, importantly, reflect his own jazz, western classical and rock music personality. It's a striking creation, integrated and brought to life by each member playing multiple instruments; standard jazz instrumentation augmented by sitar-guitar, cello, bansuri flute, ghatam, mridangam and kanjira.

The episodic mystery of Abbasi's music is compelling, as gentle acoustic guitar and flute melodies shift into atmospheric percussion and sitar-guitar is bolstered by the jazz vibrancy of sax riffs and heavy grooves. Blissful moments of beauty abound, through echoic tenor soloing in "Amulet and Dagger" to the calming flute, guitar and cello tranquillity of "Seven Days". In contrast come the dancing jazz and rock motifs of "Jugglers" and "Moving Forward", while Abbasi's extemporary prowess shines through in sumptuous "Wedding Preparation", complete with gloriously mesmeric exchanges between electric guitar and soprano saxophone.

"In Abbasi's hands, the globe's music feels relentlessly new and progressive." - Los Angeles Times

Rez Abbasi - electric and acoustic guitars
Pawan Benjamin - tenor and soprano saxophones
bansuri and western flutes
Jennifer Vincent - acoustic bass, cello
Rohan Khrishnamurthy - mridangam, ghatam, khanjira
Jake Goldbas - drum set