No Fear, No Die (S’en Fout La Mort)
Jazzbühne Berlin ’82
African River
For this excellent date, pianist Abdullah Ibrahim performs eight of his compositions with a particularly strong group of players: trombonist Robin Eubanks, John Stubblefield on tenor and flute, Horace Alexander Young switching between soprano, alto and piccolo, Howard Johnson on tuba, baritone and trumpet, bassist Buster Williams and drummer Brian Abrahams. But more important than […]
The Mountain
Ode To Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington has long been one of Abdullah Ibrahim’s main inspirations, along with South African folk music, religious themes and Thelonious Monk. Ibrahim has paid tribute to Duke many times throughout his career. This European CD is a relaxed and thoughtful solo set in which the pianist improvises impressionistic medleys, sometimes mixing in a few […]
Memories
Originally released by the Japanese Philips label, this solo piano set by Abdullah Ibrahim is spiritual, authoritative, melodic, wistful, nostalgic, and powerful, and grows in interest with each listen. Not previously available domestically (usually the West Wind label puts out concert dates), this studio session pays tribute to aspects of South Africa, as well as […]
Mindif
The music on this CD (all Abdullah Ibrahim originals) was performed and recorded for the soundtrack of a French film, Chocolat. The selections are generally fairly brief, and the LP-length set (39 minutes of music) is episodic and a bit incomplete due to the lack of a photo. Ibrahim (heard on piano, flute and voice) […]
Banyana
Abdullah Ibrahim sings and plays soprano on “Ishmael” but otherwise sticks to piano on this trio set with bassist Cecil McBee and drummer Roy Brooks. As usual Ibrahim’s folkish melodies (this CD has six of his originals plus a previously alternate take of “Ishmael”) pay tribute to his South African heritage and Islam religion without […]
Dollar Brand / Abdullah Ibrahim
Water From An Ancient Well
Also made available domestically at one time by the defunct Black Hawk label, this superior Abdullah Ibrahim recording features the pianist/composer with a very strong septet. Such superior musicians as tenor saxophonist Ricky Ford, altoist Carlos Ward, baritonist Charles Davis, and trombonist Dick Griffin are heard at their most creative and emotional on these eight […]