Search - Abdullah 'Dollar Brand' Ibrahim :: The Journey

Probably his greatest large-ensemble recording

Jan P. Dennis | Monument, CO USA | 01/07/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This reissue of a magical 1977 session marks a high point in the recording career of Abdullah Ibraham, perhaps the greatest musician to come out of Africa.It starts with the band, one of the most formidable ever assembled. With the great Johnny Dyani in the bass chair, we can expect something special--and we aren't disappointed. Not only was Dyani a truly original player, he had the uncanny ability to define an entire recording session. Here, his extended techniques (both pizzicato and arco) provide fantastic coloration and rhythmic drive, especially to "Hajj (The Journey)," the defining piece at over 21 minutes. A young Carlos Ward on alto also impresses mightily. Talib Rhynie, a name not known to me, contributes mesmerizing oboe stylings on "Hajj," sounding very oriental. Don Cherry on pocket trumpet fits into these proceedings perfectly naturally, and his solo on "Hajj" is one his finest on record--very sinuous yet entirely focused. Meanwhile, an impossibly deep groove, courtesy of Claude Jones (conga), John Betsch (percussion), and Roy Brooks (drums) pushes the music forward even as it provides a formidable rhythmic ground. Hamiet Bluiett on bari adds weight and depth, standing out esp. on "Jabulani (Joy)" with some of his patented free blowing.As a great admirer of Duke Ellington, Ibrahim has an uncanny ability to evoke the master but still provide his own unique sound signature transposed into an indiginous African key, here revealed in all its rawness and richness. A powerful presence pervades this music, something akin to the vastness and variety of Africa itself--mesmeric, Chthonic, incantatory--a product of the compositional genius of Ibrahim but also of his ability as leader to assemble and unleash such formidable musical puissance that veritably bursts from this disc.Caveat emptor: a restless urgency suffeses this music that could be off-putting to the casual listener. Indeed, Journey may be some kind of shibboleth that separates the true hearer from the poseur. Or again, it could be the Rubicon that, once crossed, ushers the weekend jazzer into lusher territory, taking him on his own personal Hajj, which presents him with both more demanding and more rewarding listening experiences. For the seasoned listener, there will be many rewards, not the least of which is to encounter an aggregate of supurb musicians performing at the very top of their game.Highest recommendation."

Not for all.

P. Street | Austin, TX USA | 05/01/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As a huge fan of Abdullah Ibrahim, I was ecstatic to see a new release of previously released material. I truly believe this man to be one of the greatest living musicians on the planet.This release is quite avant garde in comparison to many of his albums. The second cut, Jabulani (Joy) is one of the most out pieces I have ever heard him create. The CD is worth its five star rating for the third cut, Hajj (The Journey). A rolling 21 minute tour de force which shows the genius of the man in combining jazz and, for lack of a better term, world music. It is simply magnificient and I highly recommend any Ibrahim fan buy this one for that alone. For music lovers wanting to start with something less intense and more representational of most of the mans work, I recommend Mindif, The Mountain, or The African Suite."