Search - Abdullah Ibrahim :: African Magic

One of Abdullah's most essential records.A marvel!!!

JEAN-MARIE JUIF | BESANCON France | 05/28/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This concert,recorded July 13,2001,in Berlin,Germany,is one of Abdullah Ibrahim's greatest record.This extraordinary piano player,also known as Dollar Brand,was born Adolph Johannes Brand in Cape Town,South Africa, 1934.During a trip to Europe,he met Duke Ellington,in the early sixties;Duke was so fascinated by the young african musician that he organized a recording session for the Reprise label ( Duke Ellington presents the Dollar Brand Trio,February 1963;at this time,Frank Sinatra's label,Reprise,had an excellent musical director,a certain...Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington !!!).Then,Dollar became one of the most talented and adventurous jazz piano players,and his music always combined strong jazz and classical influences and the magic of african music.Just like Randy Weston.
Dollar Brand,then Abdullah Ibrahim,recorded several masterpieces: "African piano","anatomy of a south african village","ode to Duke Ellington","Memories","anthem for the new nations","live at Sweet Basil"(with Carlos Ward),an outstanding duet with Gato Barbieri,and recently,"Cape Town revisited".
This sublime concert is build like an Ellingtonian suite;it turns around "Blue bolero",which appears four times during the recital until a fifth one,an extended version,the last tune of the night.There are some of Abdullah's well known tunes,like "Blues for a hip king"(dedicated to King Sobhuza of Swaziland,who died as a very old man some 10 or 15 years ago),"Cape Town flowers","the mountain","Tsakwe";some salutes to Duke Ellington,"Duke 88","in a sentimental mood" and "solitude";a tribute to Trane,"for Coltrane",and even a glance at Kansas City,with a short excerpt from Bennie Moten's "Moten swing".
Backed by Belden Bullock on bass and Sipho Kunene on drums,Abdullah Ibrahim drives us into his magical world;it seems like the best of both jazz and african music are combined to create one of the most fascinating music ever played.
Within one month,on June 27,I'll be lucky enough to see and hear Abdullah on stage in my town.Lucky because the guy who was supposed to play that night cancelled the date.It was Paul Bley.Abdullah will replace him.This will be a somptuous evening!!!"

Abdullah Ibrahim, ultimate African musical ambassador?

Jan P. Dennis | Monument, CO USA | 02/14/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"He's been around long enough. He comes from a country (South Africa) typifying and perhaps summing up what's wrong with colonialism, thus giving him that essential oppression-earned gravitas. And he seems somehow to have grafted an authentic African sensibility onto a genuine yet progressive assimilation of Duke Ellington, perhaps the greatest of all jazzmen.And, yes, there really is magic in the air on his latest cd, African Magic. Perhaps it's the recurring fragment, "Blue Bolero," finally fully realized and unfolded as the last number in this live concert, but slyly and serendipitously salted into the procedings throughout (no less than four times). Perhaps it's the bizarre juxtiposition of Berlin and Africa that yields these mysterioso results. Perhaps it's simply a faithful jazz practitioner finally reaching critical mass. Whatever. But be advised. Something truly special is going down here. Don't miss out."