Abdullah Ibrahim
Albums
African Sketchbook is a superb example of the kind of solo concerts Abdullah Ibrahim (then known as Dollar Brand) performed early in his career. They were [more]
- List Price: $14.98
- Member Price: $13.48
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 [more]
- List Price: $17.98
- Member Price: $16.18
This was a very special recording for pianist/composer Abdullah Ibrahim because, after nearly 30 years of exile, he was back in Cape Town, South Africa performing with local [more]
- List Price: $27.98
- Member Price: $25.18
This was a nicely blended, somewhat mellow and seemingly quite finished recording by Abdullah Ibrahim with Carlos Ward (alto sax, flute), Essiet Okun Essiet (bass), and [more]
- List Price: $14.98
- Member Price: $13.48
Having explored various African jazz themes on Knysna Blue in a solo setting, Ibrahim continued in this direction with his group Ekaya. The trio, rounded out by bassist Marcus McLaurine [more]
- List Price: $22.98
- Member Price: $20.68
Cape Town Flowers is an enchanting effort from Abdullah Ibrahim, finding the pianist in a trio setting performing 11 original compositions. With the exception of the [more]
- List Price: $22.98
- Member Price: $20.68
Pianist Abdullah Ibrahim has celebrated his South African heritage in music ever since being forced to emigrate from his homeland in the early '60s. Considering that this CD [more]
- List Price: $22.98
- Member Price: $20.68
Abdullah Ibrahim's followers likely have preferences for his big-band, large-ensemble, trio, or solo works, but any of his fans will agree that all of his projects display a unique [more]
- List Price: $49.98
- Member Price: $44.98
Appearances
African Sketchbook is a superb example of the kind of solo concerts Abdullah Ibrahim (then known as Dollar Brand) performed early in his career. They were [more]
- List Price: $14.98
- Member Price: $13.48
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 [more]
- List Price: $17.98
- Member Price: $16.18
This was a very special recording for pianist/composer Abdullah Ibrahim because, after nearly 30 years of exile, he was back in Cape Town, South Africa performing with local [more]
- List Price: $27.98
- Member Price: $25.18
This was a nicely blended, somewhat mellow and seemingly quite finished recording by Abdullah Ibrahim with Carlos Ward (alto sax, flute), Essiet Okun Essiet (bass), and [more]
- List Price: $14.98
- Member Price: $13.48
A somewhat surprising pairing at the time, the former firebrand of the tenor sax and the wonderful South African pianist found a pleasant and relaxed meeting point. By 1978, [more]
- Member Price: $11.98
Having explored various African jazz themes on Knysna Blue in a solo setting, Ibrahim continued in this direction with his group Ekaya. The trio, rounded out by bassist Marcus McLaurine [more]
- List Price: $22.98
- Member Price: $20.68
In 1963, singer Sathima Bea Benjamin persuaded Duke Ellington to see her future husband, Abdullah Ibrahim (then known as Dollar Brand), play in a club in Europe. Ellington [more]
- List Price: $14.98
- Member Price: $13.48
Cape Town Flowers is an enchanting effort from Abdullah Ibrahim, finding the pianist in a trio setting performing 11 original compositions. With the exception of the [more]
- List Price: $22.98
- Member Price: $20.68
Pianist Abdullah Ibrahim has celebrated his South African heritage in music ever since being forced to emigrate from his homeland in the early '60s. Considering that this CD [more]
- List Price: $22.98
- Member Price: $20.68
The custom jazz label serves up ten dark, moody selections from its array of artists spanning from seductive female vocalists Melissa Walker and Jenny Evans to Dusko Goykovich's poignant muted trumpet and Karl Ratzer's delectable guitar musings on
- List Price: $14.98
- Member Price: $13.48
Biography
- Born Oct 9th 1934 in Cape Town, South Africa
The melodic sounds of South Africa are fused with the improvisation of jazz and the technical proficiency of classical music by South Africa-born pianist Dollar Brand or, as he's called himself since converting to Islam in 1968, Abdullah Ibrahim. Since attracting international acclaim as a member of the Jazz Epistles, one of South Africa's first jazz bands, Ibrahim has continued to explore new ground with his imaginative playing. Exposed to a variety of music as a youngster, including traditional African music, religious songs, and jazz, Ibrahim began studying piano at the age of seven. Becoming a professional musician in 1949, he performed with such South African groups as the Tuxedo Slickers and the Willie Max Big Band. Ten years later, he joined the Jazz Epistles, a group featuring trumpet player Hugh Masekela and alto saxophonist Kippi Moeketsi. The band, which had been formed in 1959 by American pianist John Mohegan for a recording session, Jazz in Africa, had recorded the first jazz album by South African musicians.
In 1962, Ibrahim left South Africa with vocalist Sathima Bea Benjamin, who he married in 1965, and temporarily settled in Zurich. Performing with his trio, which featured bassist Johnny Gertze and drummer Makaya Ntshoko, Ibrahim was overheard by Duke Ellington at the Africana Club. Ellington was so impressed by what he heard that he arranged a recording session for Ibrahim and the trio. The resulting album, Duke Ellington Presents the Dollar Brand Trio, was released on the Reprise label in 1963. he continued to be supported by Ellington following the album's release. In addition to being booked to play (at Ellington's urging) at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1965, Ibrahim served as Ellington's substitute and performed five shows with the Ellington Orchestra the following year. Shortly afterwards, he disbanded the trio and accepted an invitation to join Elvin Jones' quartet. The collaboration with Jones lasted six months. After leaving the Jones quartet, he continued to be involved with a variety of projects Besides touring as a soloist in 1968, he worked with bands led by Don Cherry and Gato Barbieri. Briefly returning to South Africa in 1976, Ibrahim settled in New York the same year. Although he returned to South Africa to live in 1990, he continues to divide his time between his birthplace and his adopted home in New York.
In 1997, Ibrahim collaborated on an album and tour with jazz drummer Max Roach. The following year, Swiss composer Daniel Schnyder arranged several of his compositions for a 22-piece orchestra for a Swiss television production, and for a world tour undertaken by the full-sized Munich Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Barbara Yahr of the United States. Ibrahim has composed the scores for such films as Chocolat and {#No Fear No Die}. ~ Craig Harris, All Music Guide
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