# CD review: Rez Abbasi & Isabelle Olivier – Oasis 2019: Sounds, CD cover, Photos

- Link: https://jazzblues.eu/2019/12/08/cd-review-rez-abbasi-isabelle-olivier-oasis-2019-sounds-cd-cover-photos/
- Published: 2019-12-08T14:56:08+01:00
- Author: https://JazzBlues.EU

**The “OASIS” project is a collaboration between the French harpist Isabelle Olivier
and the famous American guitarist and composer Rez Abbasi, born in Pakistan. **

The combination of harp and guitar offers unique opportunities in harmony, rhythm
or sound. Together, Abassi and Olivier have built on their successful duet performances
by adding two gifted percussionists, Sameer Gupta (table) and Michael Sarin (drums).

OASIS, the new recording from the award-winning guitarist Rez Abbasi and the captivating
French harpist Isabelle Olivier, makes the pairing of their respective instruments
sound predestined.

The confluence between harp and guitar offers unique opportunities in harmony, rhythm
and texture, which they magnificently capture and magnify in order to create a personal
sound. Joining the two highly empathetic leaders are gifted percussionists Prabhu
Edouard on tabla and David Paycha on drums.

Together the texture of the quartet creates a sanctuary of sound, but along with
the compositional and arranging prowess of both leaders, the collective flourishes
in originating a bold statement. During the opening Abbasi arrangement of the well-
known Richard Rodgers song “_My Favorite Things_,” we get a firm sense of what will
proceed. Along with their free spirited willingness to traverse the avant-garde,
they remain sensitive to each other and all musical elements. Other tracks such 
as Olivier’s “_Timeline_” convey a film-like quality and push her use of electronics,
while Abbasi’s harmonically bountiful “_Stepping Stone_” echoes with classical influence.

Throughout _**OASIS** _(an acronym for_ _Olivier Abbasi Sound In Sound), the music
surges with a uniquely propulsive groove, with sinuous melodies that follow surprising,
exotic contours. As soloists, each member displays virtuosity without overbearing
the music. Collective improvisations also abound with breathtaking results. As a
conceptual team, Abbasi and Olivier are able to combine their compositional spheres
to create a varied yet singular program of music.

![Rez-Abbasi-photo-by-John-Rogers-2019_1200pix b&w](https://i0.wp.com/jazzpress.
gpoint-audio.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Rez-Abbasi-photo-by-John-Rogers-2019_1200pix-
bw.jpg?resize=640%2C293)

**Rez Abbasi**

Guitarist and composer Rez Abbasi is an artist who continually pushes new boundaries.
Born in Karachi, Pakistan, and raised in Southern California, he studied at the 
USC and the Manhattan School of Music in jazz and classical music, supplemented 
by a pilgrimage in India under the tutelage 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 placed in the“
Top-Ten Guitarists” in 2015 & 2016, Abbasi has become one of the most significant
musicians on the current scene. Making New York home for the past 25 years, he has
created a unique sound that is stimulated by his jazz pedigree and Indian-Pakistani
upbringing. With fourteen albums, multiple awards and composition commissions, Rez
Abbasi continues to find creative ways to enrich diverse audiences with his musical
projects.

![isabelle_olivier_11](https://i0.wp.com/jazzpress.gpoint-audio.com/wp-content/uploads/
2019/11/isabelle_olivier_11.jpg?resize=640%2C360)

**Isabelle Olivier**

Jazzwoman, composer and harpist Isabelle Olivier brings a wave of freshness and 
novelty to the international artistic world with her surprising and unique instrument
and strong musical personality. She has recorded eight discs and a DVD of her personal
work and traveled to 22 countries to present her musical creations. For the past
five years she has divided her time between France and the United States. She has
worked with artists from all fields including Agnes Varda and Adbellatif Kechiche
in film; Emilie Valantin and Michel Bruzat in theater; as well as the Radio France
Choir.  She has also given master classes at the Trinity College in London. She 
is a worldwide ambassador for the new electro-acoustic harp Salvi “Rainbow.” Winner
of the Prize from the Villa Le Nôtre at Versailles in 2015, she became the first
musician and composer awarded by the foundation. In 2017, she was commissioned by
the Art Institute of Chicago to compose and perform “In between Gauguin.”

1. My Favorite Things (5:26)
 2. Lemongrass (5:03) 3. Cherry Blossom (6:22) 4. Timeline(
3:37) 5. Coeur que bat (1:59) 6. Stepping Stone (5:49) 7. Road Movie (4:29) 8. Dodeca(
2:27) 9. Other Tones (6:32) 10. Looking for Dad (5:32)

**Rez Abbasi – acoustic guitar**
 **Isabelle Olivier – harp & electronics** **Sameer
Gupta – tabla** **Michael Sarin – drums**

![Картинки по запросу "Rez Abbasi & Isabelle Olivier - Oasis""](https://i0.wp.com/
www.dibpic.com/uploads/posts/2019-12/1575559684_folder.jpg?w=640&ssl=1)

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