Abdullah Ibrahim Trio recently performed at 92nd Street Y in New York in November.
I’m recalling a solo “Single Petal of a Rose” from years ago that was so gorgeous it made a Boston audience gasp. And I’m remembering my last encounter with the maestro at BAM (2018, maybe?), a show that generated a tsunami of goosebumps. That kind of emotional reaction isn’t really out of the ordinary for the veteran South African pianist, who brings something regal and heartfelt to the table as a matter of course. No reason this week’s trio affair shouldn’t have that kind of emotional sweep. He just turned 90 a month ago, and the reeds and flute (Cleave Guyton) and bass and cello (Noah Jackson) accompaniment bolsters the poignancy of gems such as “Water From An Ancient Well,” “The Wedding,” and the forlorn “Mindif.” Check their renderings on last January’s 3 (Gearbox) – a chamber music vibe, yes, but with the poise running neck ‘n’ neck with the passion. Both have forever had their say in Ibrahim’s music.
Original article written by Jim Macnie.