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Jazz Articles about Abdullah Ibrahim


About Abdullah Ibrahim

Album Review

Abdullah Ibrahim & WDR Big Band Cologne: Bombella

Read "Bombella" reviewed by AAJ Italy Staff

by AAJ Italy Staff

Il brano di apertura, “Green Kalahari," è un'improvvisazione per solo piano, dedicata al luogo in cui il pianista ha realizzato la sua M7 Academy per i musicisti sudafricani. Si tratta di un brano di cui è stata realizzata una sola take, e mai più suonato. Un'applicazione del principio no mind, che Ibrahim ha mutuato dalle arti marziali, e che prevede che l'artista dedichi tutto se stesso alla magia del momento, “dimenticando" quella componente razionale (lavoro, esercizi, apprendimento) che gli ha ...

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Album Review

Abdullah Ibrahim: Senzo

Read "Senzo" reviewed by Raul d'Gama Rose

by Raul d'Gama Rose

Any record by Abdullah Ibrahim is always an event to look forward to, often with bated breath as he always turns in something quite breathtaking. Ibrahim has done this with Good News from Africa (Enja, 1973), Water from an Ancient Well (Ekapa/Tiptoe, 1985), the exquisite orchestral work African Suite (Ekapa/Tiptoe, 1998), and several others. The thrilling Senzo can be added to that list. This is a major solo piano suite, comprising 21 individually composed segments, plus a ...

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Album Review

Abdullah Ibrahim: Senzo

Read "Senzo" reviewed by AAJ Italy Staff

by AAJ Italy Staff

La cultura occidentale ha una formidabile capacità di sintetizzare e stereotipare le forze culturali che provengono dall'esterno, un capacità da un lato foriera di una ricchezza comunicativa straordinaria, dall'altro di una rapidissima neutralizzazione di quelle che possono essere delle energie in qualche modo cetrifughe rispetto alla norma o al grado di esotismo stabilito. Un esempio piuttosto fulgido è quello di Abdullah Ibrahim, il settantaquattrenne pianista sudafricano conosciuto originariamente come Dollar Brand e poi trasferitosi in Europa negli anni Sessanta, dove ...

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Album Review

Abdullah Ibrahim: A Celebration

Read "A Celebration" reviewed by AAJ Staff

by AAJ Staff

Now entering his eighth decade, pianist Abdullah Ibrahim has been largely responsible for introducing the world to South African jazz and attracting new ears to its warm, reverent tradition, whether from exile or Cape Town. To celebrate his 70th birthday, his 50th year on record, and his 35th anniversary as an Enja Records recording artist, the label has assembled this collection.

As compilations go, this is about as wide-ranging and inclusive as one could reasonably expect from a single label. ...

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African Jazz

Abdullah Ibrahim: A Celebration & Re:Brahim

Read "Abdullah Ibrahim: A Celebration & Re:Brahim" reviewed by AAJ Staff

by AAJ Staff

Now entering his eighth decade, Abdullah Ibrahim has long ago established himself as a true master of jazz--whether in New York, London, Cape Town, or beyond.

The pianist has accomplished two very important things in the last fifty years. First, he has brought South African jazz to the world, recruiting new fans to its characteristically warm, reverent vibe--still taking regular risks to tap into outer realms of spiritual energy, but never far from his roots in bop, classical, ...

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484

Live Review

Abdullah Ibrahim Trio at the Earshot Jazz Festival

Read "Abdullah Ibrahim Trio at the Earshot Jazz Festival" reviewed by Ryan Burns

by Ryan Burns

(One person says) “You see that man over there? He's very talented. He speaks 40 languages!'? (The other replies) “Oh yeah, Well what does he say?'? ~Abdullah Ibrahim (after being asked by an interviewer how many languages he speaks)A man of few words yet full of musical expression, South African pianist Abdullah Ibrahim recently paid a rare visit to Seattle, “speaking'? to a standing room only audience at On The Boards. Scheduled to give a question and answer discussion ...

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Profile

Abdullah Ibrahim: African Magic

Read "Abdullah Ibrahim: African Magic" reviewed by A. Henkin

by A. Henkin

Much is made of jazz as the music of African-American experience, one that is sadly pockmarked with racism, prejudice and struggle. These labors give jazz legitimacy and relevance as well as an opportunity for many to say that only jazz' black practitioners are bona fide. The 10th Anniversary of free elections in South Africa is a perfect time to consider the plight of musicians outside of the American experience. The tradition of South African jazz is not ...

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