# CD review: Rez Abbasi – A Throw of Dice 2019: Video, CD cover

- Link: https://jazzblues.eu/2019/10/20/cd-review-rez-abbasi-a-throw-of-dice-2019-video-cd-cover/
- Published: 2019-10-20T13:00:14+01:00
- Author: https://JazzBlues.EU

**Following the worldwide critical acclaim for his first Whirlwind album _Unfiltered
Universe_, we’re delighted to announce the October release of Rez Abbasi’s film 
score soundtrack ‘A Throw of Dice’**

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. The project was commissioned in 2017 by David Spelman, curator of 
the celebrated New York Guitar Festival. Following an Abbasi trio performance at
WNYC’s Green Space, hosted by veteran radio DJ John Schaefer, Spelman quickly recognised
the eclecticism and power in Abbasi’s music and what his broad musical range could
bring to a larger concept. “The idea was to write a new score for the historic 74-
minute film – A Throw of Dice, and to perform it live at Brookfield Place in Manhattan
and The Krannert Center in Illinois”, 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.” The tale is based on an episode from The Mahābhārata, one of
two epic Sanskrit tales of India from 8th century B.C.E.; a moral and philosophical
story of love and manipulation, played out in a very human fashion where (just as
relevant in our times) greed ultimately can never win.

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. This began as a musical narrative – a through-composed “collaboration
with Indian and cinematography history” with both scored and improvisatory responses
to on-screen action. Yet away from the visuals 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. 
As Rez states, “ It was imperative to have a versatile group in order to mirror 
the flow of the film. With these textural possibilities, I felt I had the flexibility
to keep the music aligned with whatever emotional content the film presented.”

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.

“This album is quite different from anything else I’ve done – something I would 
not have created had it not been for the film’s guidance, which is so pleasing”,
enthuses Rez. “Engaging with the characters’ emotional and psychological content,
the visuals along with other stimuli, galvanized my ideas. However, as subservient
as I was to the film, knowing that the music was going to be released separately,
it was important for me to create an engaging listening experience that would be
strong on its own. The added bonus is, as a performance piece the pockets of improvisation
allows it to evolve every time.”

* Guitarist and composer Rez Abbasi is an artist who continually pushes boundaries
in meaningful ways. Born in Karachi, Pakistan and raised in Southern California 
since age four, he studied jazz and classical music at the University of Southern
California and the Manhattan School of Music, supplemented by a pilgrimage in India
under the guidance of master percussionist Ustad Alla Rakha. Abbasi’s music is a
vivid synthesis of all the above stated influences and genres. Voted #1 “Rising-
Star Guitarist” in 2013’s DownBeat Critics Poll and subsequently placed in the “
Top-Ten Guitarists” alongside luminaries Bill Frisell and Pat Metheny, Rez Abbasi
has become one of the most original voices on the current scene. Making New York
home for the past 25 years, the guitarist’s unique playing and composing can be 
heard on his now thirteen albums. Garnering multiple awards and composition commissions,
Rez Abbasi continues to find creative ways to enrich diverse audiences with his 
musical projects.

1. Mystery Rising (6:03)
 2. Hopeful Impressions (1:30) 3. Love Prevails (3:23) 
4. Facing Truths (3:54) 5. Amulet and Dagger (2:22) 6. Blissful Moments (4:31) 7.
Seven Days Until News (3:03) 8. Duplicity (5:22) 9. Jugglers (1:48) 10. Snake Bite(
3:17) 11. Moving Forward (2:03) 12. Wedding Preparation (6:08) 13. Morning of the
Wedding (3:21) 14. Gambling Debt (1:47) 15. Boy Changes Fate (1:38) 16. Falsehood(
1:33) 17. Changing Worlds (3:32) 18. Chase for Liberation (3:05) 19. True Home (
2:01)

**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**

![Image result for Rez Abbasi - A Throw of Dice](https://i0.wp.com/img.discogs.com/
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