Dollar Brand / Abdullah Ibrahim - where to begin?

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)