Out of the oriental flash and filigree of a Pakistani ancestry; exposed to the musics of the sub-continent at an early age through his family's more than casual involvement; removed at four to the driving surf sounds of the So. California beach scene; schooled at U.S.C. and the prestigious Manhattan School of Music, and a brief pilgrimage in India under the tutorial of master percussionist, Alla Rakha, Rez Abbasi is a vivid synthesis of all the above stated influences and genres.

Although improvised jazz is certainly and formidably his baseline art, Rez's delvings into the musical traditions of other cultures inform his musical vision and compositional éclat with clear-sighted appropriation and the ability to return what he has borrowed, through his own compositions and playing, in an enhanced and amplified state.

These propensities and gifts, although in abundant evidence in Rez's previous two CDs, "Third Ear" which features the legendary Peter Erskine, and "Modern Memory" which features the heralded Gary Thomas, have never been more dramatically and exquisitely manifested than in his most recent release, "Out Of Body", featuring saxophonist Tony Malaby, trumpeter Ron Horton, bassist John Hebert and drummer Bruce Hall.

The expression "tight" is the ultimate compliment for the internal dynamics and intra-personal communications that drive the best jazz ensemble playing, delivering to listeners the creative intentions of its leaders, and tight is a more than apt description of the nine songs that makeup the Rez Abbasi quintet's "Out Of Body" session, all recorded in one day.

Among Rez's other creative projects is his long-standing association with bassist David Phillips, drummer Tony Moreno and alto saxophonist John O'gallagher in the highly acclaimed, collective ensemble, "Freedance", which recently performed in France and recorded their second CD. Rez is also an integral part of the Christian Howes/Rez Abbasi Quartet which features the virtuostic violinist, Howes, and tours annually through out the mid-west.

Rez has also performed with a variety of artist including Ruth Brown, Victor Lewis, Ron McClure, Kenny Werner, Barre Phillips, DD Jackson, Gary Thomas, Jeff Williams, Billy Hart, Michael Formanek and a host of others. He looks forward to working as a sideman as well as a leader and is planning on recording two new CDs of original music in 2002. These projects will utilize a hybrid instrument called the sitar-guitar and will touch deeper into his Indian/Pakistani roots.

No less a critic than the impeccable Bill Milkowski has written of Rez's work that "his unpredictable phrasing and accomplished writing are what sets him apart from hordes of other technically adept plectorists". High praise, indeed.