Dollar Brand / Abdullah Ibrahim - where to begin?

Great start, thanks everyone!

Anything with Johnny Dyani, I'm all over it. Gonna start there. Did he record with any of the other Blue Notes / Brotherhood of Breath folks?

AFRICAN SPACE PROGRAM

― 69, Thursday, August 23, 2012 6:55 PM (3 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

(that's kind of the only one i think ill hold on to forever, though ive heard/owned most of his records at one point...)

― 69, Thursday, August 23, 2012 6:55 PM (3 hours ago) Bookmark

good to hear that, I didn't want to chime in on the thread because that's the ONLY one I have or have heard, but I think it's good

I only know African Magic (from 2003) but I really like it. I'm embarrassed to admit that I did not know his career stretched so far back and that he had been so prolific. AMG says African Magic is different from his other concerts. Maybe I should look into more.

Just loaded up on a bunch of OOP titles at Amoeba yesterday, in addition to the latest one (Mukashi).

Listening to Mukashi now. Holy hell, it's good.

Eyaka was love at first listening; yeah Water From An Ancient Wellis great; for a sharp-eyed free jazz excursion, check that 60s set (later reissued on Arista Freedom) with Gato, as noted by Stevo upthread. The Very Best of, from 2000 or so, is very good too; I need to get more.

Sorry, I meant Ekaya!

well i should check these out then

Jammin' African Space Program now for the first time. It's wacky!

Water From An Ancient Well is really chilled.

That one has 'Manenberg Revisited' aka 'Soweto' on it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTDQCcEN8v8

One of his best tunes, for sure.

i was a little worried to see this thread bob up.

I happened upon his 1986 live-album South Africa in a flea market, it's pretty great

Went to see him last night, absolutely heartwarming show. Like a combo of Ellington, Monk, third stream music and township jazz. I didn't know what kind of band he'd have, I was figuring it'd be a piano trio, but he had a wonderful 4-piece brass/winds section; I don't think I've ever seen piccolo used in a jazz context, and this guy was amazing.

Lucky.

I know, I felt really lucky to be there. Such spiritual music. His songs segue beautifully, from solo piano to adding cello and drums, to the brass section, and back again. And he never said a word. He didn't even have a mic to introduce any song titles or band members. Just did this:

http://kalamu.com/neogriot/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Abdullah-Ibrahims-04.jpg

ahhh... i found some of his earliest albums (reflections and african sketchbook) in a record shop last year, and played the heck out of them. african sketchbook in particular is gorgeous.

Am I right in thinking that he has got pretty spacey in places.
Also that he had an at least semi electric township related band going fairly recently.

I haven't listened to him i a while but do think I was hearing some stuff that sounded pretty out from him.

some of his stuff gets a little muzak-y, yes

Some of his mid-70's albums are pretty wacky.

I'm listening to solo recording from '73 - Ancient Africa, today. It is really fucking great.

not strictly solo, actually.

If such a thing as a higher power whose only goal is to fill the universe with good exists, this man was surely sent here to spread the good news with his music.

But that existing naturally is next to impossible, which makes him all the more remarkable.

Have a nice day.

Anthem for the New Nations is pretty gorgeous and low key

It just occurred to me after purchasing two more albums from his catalogue yesterday that were new to me: I have over 20 albums of his and there has been at least one song or solo or theme on all of them that has made me say: "This is one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard."

new album totally slays: https://www.discogs.com/Abdullah-Ibrahim-aka-Dollar-Brand-With-Ekaya-The-Balance/master/1561912

and has another new one forthcoming of solo piano redoings of past masterpieces: https://www.discogs.com/Abdullah-Ibrahim-Dream-Time/release/13932012

he will save the world one day.

i've been going back to this one lately:

https://img.discogs.com/umRzrAB6igqj8uQidAkXxwf8DIQ=/fit-in/500x490/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-4668749-1377418486-5637.jpeg.jpg

it's really good; and somewhat unusual for him. it's not with his regular band. it's a larger group with horns and the mighty buster williams is on bass. it was recorded by rudy van gelder at his studio, so it sounds amazing. most of the themes and compositions are exclusive to this set, which is another thing that makes it stick out. really just one of his best, honestly. top stuff.

https://img.discogs.com/8wJYhnon8AP8OEr0WO0jp5olHhM=/fit-in/600x600/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-13545963-1556270502-3098.jpeg.jpg

don cherry / carlos ward / dollar brand — live in berlin, 1972

i've already talked about this one on the don cherry thread, so posting here bc i've recently acquired a copy and it's fantastic.

i had a really hard time tracking this down so i'm going to make an mp3 rip for some friends. you can ILX mail me if you're interested.

maybe the files have been on blogs or whatever and i just can't find them. there are posters here who would know better than i would.

Everything is crumbling. I put on 'African Herbs' yesterday.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LL_k5Q5WEBs

It made me cry.

I don't know where I am —or the world at large is— heading. And yet, there is still something in this music that makes all of the endurance and pain seem manageable and worth it.

Timely revive, bj.

i really appreciate your posts in this thread, Austin.

p.s. send me another ILX mail with yr email this time so i have a place to send the files :)

Sent and thank you.

I'd love to hear this!

here is the '72 concert:

https://soundcloud.com/purediamond/dc-cw-db-berlin-72

search: blues for a hip king
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AW3ACWo31oQ

absolutely

If you have a dimeadozen account I grabbed a fantastic set the other month:
"Abdullah Ibrahim 2001-07-07 - Eldena, Germany"

(if you don't I can upload the mp3's)

Plays one large improvisation in a Keith Jarrett manner but merging a number of his melodies together. Highly recommend.

I saw him live in nyc around summer or spring or fall (?) 2001. One of the best shows ever

I recall his album Cape Town revisited really capturing the feel of his live show around that time

would love to see him

xps hi Finn! i have a dimeadozen account but i'm still unsure how to use it. hit me up via ILX mail?

having a hard time tracking down "underground in africa" (1974) in any format -- but if side 2 is a good as side 1, which i can hear on youtube, it's got to be one of his finest recordings:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVMaQoxZZCw

Just PM'd you, budo

thanks so much !!

really digging The Pilgrim (1979) this morning.

Listened to African Space Program yesterday on Spotify. The music is fantastic but did it always sound so bad?

"the balance" (2019) plays like a part two to "moniebah."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjropnwFTYg

it is making my heart ache this sunday morning. nothing else to add.

beautiful

Been kind of a nervous wreck lately because of a thing I have to do today so I just said screw this I'm listening to Abdullah Ibrahim all morning. Random album choice: Sotho Blue from 2010. Never heard this one before. And wouldn't you know, five minutes into "Calypso Minor" and I'm absolutely certain that today will be a good day and I've absolutely got this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bN80O5vgls

Still getting through the album, but on track four now and it's shaping up to be another undeniably strong album by one of the best ever.

Okay, that album ruled. Second half was even better.

Moving on to the remix album that I've avoided for years because . . . idk, meh? Only remixer I recognize going in is DJ Spooky (haven't gotten to his track yet). I'm about halfway through and really kind of pleasantly surprised. It's very much early 2000s coffee shop fodder, but it's well done! (Okay, maybe not the goofy electro house thing, but otherwise not bad!)

love when he sings.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6kAfMMSzYY

"for john coltrane" (1992)

also -on the same album, mind you- he does two very good synth explorations. definitely shades of devotional era alice coltrane and something i wish he would've explored more. some of my favorite things he's done:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsociMeA_EY

"mizu/water" (1992)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0ZlIM8pb4Q

"the praise song" (1992)

I just learned last week that Jean Grae is Abdullah Ibrahim's daughter and that kinda melted my brain a little.

yep, her birth name is tsidi ibrahim. there's a song named after her, also on the same album as the tracks posted earlier-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0Lv7cUyJ3g

"tsidi" (1992)

(the album is desert flowers btw. mostly solo piano, very recommended)