5th July 2018: Rez Abbasi’s ‘Unfiltered Universe’ ft. Vijay Iyer, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Johannes Weidenmüeller, Dan Weiss and Elizabeth Mikhael continues to draw critical acclaim from UK, rest of Europe and USA + Jazzwise Magazine feature

Completing a trilogy of albums whose compositions are infused with the various, colorful strands of traditional music from his Pakistani/Indian homeland, New York guitarist Rez Abbasi’s Unfiltered Universe presents the line-up of pianist Vijay Iyer, alto saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa, bassist Johannes Weidenmueller and drummer Dan Weiss, plus guest appearances from renowned classical cellist Elizabeth Mikhael.

Previous releases Things to Come and Suno Suno focused, respectively, on Hindustani and Qawwali music, whereas this collection of seven new numbers explores and embraces the more rhythmically exuberant, South Asian elements of Carnatic instrumental music.

More critical acclaim for  Unfiltered Universe from the music press across the UK, Europe and USA:

“Creative, melodious, intense and eclectic.”
Jazz Zeitung (website)

“Rousingly powerful, rich in detail and striking… A fusion of South Indian, rock and improvised jazz music.”
Leipziger Volkszeitung (website)

“Emphatically powerful and intense.”
Jazz Podium (website)

“Abbasi brings an open-border fluidity to his music without forsaking any aspect of his roots.”
WGBO (website)

“An astounding richness of rhythms and timbres.”
Image Hi Fi (CH)

“Complex structures of compositions and arrangements, a never-ending atmosphere of spontaneous development,surprises and sudden twists… This is modern jazz rock or fusion at its finest!”
Musik an Sich (website)

“An adventure, a mysterious journey through the world of music, marked by a variety of impressions and influences.”
Musik Zirkus (website)

“Abbasi demonstrates that his music continues to thrill and seek out the new… He’s found it here.”
Concerto Magazine (website)

“This skilled ensemble of avant-garde Indo European musicians breathe life into Abbasi’s daring compositions.”
★★★★ Jazzthetik (website)

“The most interesting thing about this music the rapid changes that the band makes collectively within the pieces.”
Jazz Thing (website)

“A stimulating of unpredictable modern jazz, one of Rez Abbasi’s finest recordings to date.”
Jazz Artistry Now (website)

“This ensemble skilfully breathes life into Abbasi’s bold Indo-Jazz, avant-garde compositions.”
Badische Zeitung (website)

“A mixture of world, jazz and rock influences… This album has to be heard.”
Horspiegel (website)

“The disc merges world music with contemporary free-form music and virtuosity with harmonic simplicity… An exotic and exciting fusion.”
Musik Reviews (website)

“For all the album’s twists and turns, the core lies in high-energy solos flying over bassist Johannes Weidenmueller and drummer Dan Weiss’s knowing and precisely fused beats.”
Financial Times (full review)

“The blend of alto sax, acoustic piano, and guitar with this highly active rhythm section makes for a winning combination.”
Step Tempest (full review)