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South Africa
Abdullah Ibrahim’s spiritual and very melodic South African folk music is always worth hearing and his individuality remains quite impressive. This set, recorded live at the Montreux Jazz Festival, features the pianist (who also plays a bit of soprano and adds his emotional voice to the proceedings) with his longtime altoist Carlos Ward, bassist Essiet […]
Duke’s Memories
Autobiography
Dollar Brand featuring Bea Benjamin – Boswil Concert 1973
African Dawn
On this solo piano set, Abdullah Ibrahim pays tributes to some of his musical heroes: Thelonious Monk (“‘Round Midnight,” “Just You, Just Me,” “Blue Monk,” and “For Monk”), John Coltrane (“For Coltrane”), and Billy Strayhorn (“A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing”), although surprisingly not Duke Ellington this time. But even on the direct tributes (which […]
South African Sunshine
Matsidiso
Bra Joe from Kilimanjaro
Echoes From Africa
This is a rather emotional duet set by pianist Abdullah Ibrahim and bassist Johnny Dyani, two masterful musicians from South Africa. Their often introspective music includes three originals (with one piece dedicated to McCoy Tyner) plus a nearly 17-minute improvisation based on a folk melody that also allows one to hear the voices of the […]