June 1999

Rez Abbasi
Modern Memory
Cathexis Records

By Marcela Breton

Guitarist Abbasi writes in his liner notes that he wanted to "combine free form sections and tuneful melodic songs." He's managed just that. Modern Memory refers to three improvisational interludes dedicated to John Coltrane, Jim Hall, and Keith Jarrett, respectively. Gary Thomas plays tenor, Michael Formanek bass, and Tony Moreno drums. "Monk's Dream" is the only standard. The opener is Hermeto Pascoal's "Serie de Arco" with Brazilian percussion by Moreno. All other tunes are by Abbasi.