Jazz artists go solo in lockdown
Five solo piano albums released in South Africa during the Covid-19 pandemic give shape and sound to our search for meaning amid the isolation of the moment.
Blue Bolero from upcoming Abdullah Ibrahim solo piano album Solitude is streaming
We don’t often get ”earworms” but did back in 2016. The piece that became one was ‘Blue Bolero’ heard live. The artist, Abdullah Ibrahim (above: photo via Gearbox on Bandcamp). And now a later 2020 version of ‘Blue Bolero’ recorded in Germany from upcoming album Solotude is streaming. Nobody does stately grandeur and a sense of momentousness […]
Preorder Abdullah Ibrahim – Solotude Vinyl LP
Each year on October 9th, Abdullah Ibrahim performs a solo piano concert at the Hirzinger Hall in South Germany in order to celebrate his birthday. Due to lockdown restrictions last year, this traditional birthday concert was replaced with the opportunity to record a solo piano performance. Hirzinger Hall, in Riedering, South East Germany, is famous for its incredible acoustics, […]
Gearbox Records release ‘Understanding the Balance with Abdullah Ibrahim’
Gearbox presents ‘Understanding ‘The Balance’ with Abdullah Ibrahima one-off online masterclass with pianist and composer Abdullah Ibrahim 10 segments, each 2 minutes long Available on Vimeo with password access Password and link will be received within 24hrs of purchase Each lesson is transcribed in the description below the video Watch the introductory clip: The sound of […]
Giants of Jazz – Dream Time
Tuesday, 23.03.2021 / 8 p.m. Prinzregententheater Catch-up date for April 21, 2020! Cards remain valid! “People don’t like Abdullah Ibrahim, they adore him.” The Guardian London 50 blinding years of distilled jazz / The Guardian London “The Great Warmth” Süddeutsche Zeitung 7/2019 “In the sold-out Prinzregententheater, Abdullah Ibrahim plays the enthusiastic audience in his solo […]
Honouring a special SA, Japan history
“As my term in South Africa draws to a close, allow me to share my thoughts in this column. I served in South Africa as a diplomat for a total of 21 years intermittently since 1987.”
Yo-Yo Ma: A New Equilibrium Live Session – Take 1
Yo-Yo Ma returns to the IDAGIO Global Concert Hall on October 23, 2020, with a live concert event honouring the 75th anniversary of the UN’s creation.
Abdullah Ibrahim in Japanese news
Ibrahim: ‘n Blik tot anderkant die Melkweg
Die storie begin dekades gelede toe Abdullah Ibrahim ’n leerling aan die Trafalgar High School in Distrik Ses was. Leergierig het hy gaan rondkrap in argiewe en opgelees oor Anthony van Japan, die eerste Japannees aan die Kaap wat as slaaf vir Zacharias Wagenaer (Jan van Riebeeck se
opvolger) gewerk het.
Water from an Ancient Well: Abdullah Ibrahim’s Japanese cosmology
“In Japan, there is a concept called Ikigai – which means, what is it that you want to do when you wake up this morning. My Ikigai is what I’m doing. It’s almost like finding your destiny. That’s what the music does.”