Snake Charmer

Although a guitar-organ-trio makes one think of Jimmy Smith and the soul-jazz organists of the 1960s, Rez Abbasi's trio is closer to Tony Williams' Lifetime in its adventurous nature, but with some major differences. Mixing together jazz/rock fusion with his own roots in India and Pakistan plus post-bop jazz and other indefinable qualities, Abbasi has created a unique set of intriguing music. He doubles on the sitar-guitar, drummer Danny Weiss also plays tabla, and some selections add the haunting voice of Kiran Ahluwalia or soprano-saxophonist Dave Liebman. The music sometimes grooves in its own fashion and sometimes it takes its time as the musicians dig into it. Organist Gary Versace is a major asset throughout, giving this unique CD a great deal of personality.