When I visited Ornette Coleman’s SoHo loft in early 1973, the threat of eviction was already hanging over him. The great saxophonist and composer had lived at 131 Prince Street since the late ’60s, when the district’s historic buildings had been under threat of demolition...
At 81, pianist Abdullah Ibrahim, is still going strong, something he proved during a remarkable tour-de-force performance which spanned four nights at SFJAZZ in San Francisco. For the first two evenings (Thursday and Friday), Ibrahim appeared in the company of his Mukashi Trio. For these...
The 1960's was the decade where jazz musicians began to assert a stronger African heritage and even non-conformist approaches to their music. Although this had only begun to fully blossom in 1960, the Jazz Epistles in South Africa were already on this path in 1959...
After years in exile and liberated South Africa it is only now; for the first time in 60 years that these two iconic jazz instrumentalists, icons and South African global jazz ambassadors; Abdullah Ibrahim and Hugh Masekela will reunite and perform on one stage. In solidarity...
Black Major Artist Management have announced the release of a new short film on the musical philosophy of legendary South African jazz pioneer, Abdullah Ibrahim. Directed by Ian Henderson of local production company THINKFILM, the production centres around a secret street performance by Ibrahim at Cape...
If you were walking through the Cape Town CBD yesterday, you might have come across an odd scene – a grand piano in a church square – and you would have found jazz legend Abdullah Ibrahim giving a free concert. Playing for 45 minutes, just a few steps...
On a windy Wednesday in Cape Town, photographer Andiswa Mkosi left the office to attend what would be her first musical event for 2016. Lucky for her and many artists and jazz aficionados in Cape Town, she was treated to a free concert at Church...
Now 81, the tall, dignified Cape Town-born jazz musician, famed for international hits like Mannenberg (1974), will play solo a programme of music that combines South African township and traditional African music, gospel, and enigmatic jazz. Born in Cape Town as Adolph Johannes Brand, his mother...
One of Cape Town’s favourite sons, jazz pianist and composer Abdullah Ibrahim seldom performs in South Africa due to his international commitments. But he is in the city for a one-off concert. He told eNCA that South Africa is like a child in the process of...
The email from Abdullah Ibrahim says: “1700hrs confirmed for tomorrow.” I have already drawn up a list of 15 questions for one of South Africa’s national treasures. At 5pm the next day, we are talking on Skype. With the tone and immediacy of a toddler’s 21...