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Rez Abbasi & Junction – Behind the Vibration – Cuneiform

Rez Abbasi & Junction – Behind the Vibration – Cuneiform

by | Jan 18, 2017 | Jazz CD Reviews

Guitarist Rez Abbasi’s new band brings fusion to an innovative level. Rez Abbasi & Junction – Behind the Vibration – Cuneiform, Rune 424, 57:59 [5/20/16] ****: (Rez Abbasi – guitar, co-mixer; Mark Shim – tenor saxophone, MIDI wind-controller; Ben Stivers – keyboards, B-3, Rhodes; Kenny Grohowski – drums) Guitarist Rez Abbasi has seemingly worked in every type of jazz and improvisational music imaginable. His solo projects and collaborations (Vijay Iyer and Rudresh Mahanthappa are just two of many) have comprised South Asian jazz fusion, jazz-rock, acoustic and hard electric music, electronica elements integrated with jazz, Indo/Saharan blends, and other diverse and distinct music. Abbasi’s embrace of different genres into a unified whole reaches fresh heights on his latest foray, the hour-long Behind the Vibration, which is the first album with Abbasi’s new quartet, Junction, and also his first release on the Cuneiform label. Alongside Abbasi is tenor saxophonist Mark Shim (who also adds an electronic MIDI wind-controller). Shim has a few solo CDs to his name and has previously recorded or performed with Greg Osby, Elvin Jones, Mose Allison and Betty Carter. In the drum seat is Kenny Grohowski (credits include John Zorn, John Medeski, and numerous others). Rounding out […]

The Night Manager (6 Episodes), Blu-ray (2016)

The Night Manager (6 Episodes), Blu-ray (2016)

by | Sep 11, 2016 | DVD & Blu-ray Video Reviews

A really thrilling six-episode miniseries based on a John le Carré spy novel. The Night Manager (6 Episodes), Blu-ray (2016) Cast: Hugh Laurie, Tom Hiddleston, Olivia Colman Director: Susanne Bier Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent. 47778 (8/30/16) [2 Blu-rays] Video: 1.78:1 for 16:9 screens, HD color Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1 Subtitles: English, English SDH, French English Soundtrack for the Hearing Impaired Length: TT: 361 min. Rating: ***** This six-part miniseries was originally telecast on the BBC and is a thrilling spy story with great acting, cinematography and production. This Blu-ray duo is labeled “Uncensored Edition,” so there are evidently some portions that the BBC considered unsuitable for airing. For some time only the first two of the six episodes were available to those outside of the UK. It begins with a rather reserved English night manager at a fancy hotel in Cairo, Jonathan Pine. The mistress of a noted Arab person in the hotel has him make copies for her of some papers which incriminate a supposed charitable leader who is actually using his charitable organization for refugees as a cover for his actual business of being an international arms dealer and according to at least one person “the worst […]