The Wedding

Abdullah Ibrahim
Duration: 04:55
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Lauded pianist Abdullah Ibrahim was known for the purity of his sound and of his soul. His technique was not flashy. Early in his career (then known as "Dollar Brand"), he led the development of "Cape Town Jazz," a light, uplifting style that combined gospel, African street music and big band swing. Later, his songs took on greater protestation of Apartheid in South Africa. Many would say his most cherished works were folksy, introspective solo compositions. Here we have a superb example of the sanctified space he creates while performing solo, on “The Wedding” from his Solotude album. For an ensemble piece with flute, sax, and trombone, look on YouTube for "Abdullah Ibrahim & Ekaya - Water from an Ancient World" to wash over you. (Thanks to AAJ colleague Kofi Adjepong-Boateng for recommending these pieces and writing the obituary of Abdullah Ibrahim: 1934–2026).

Posted by Scott Lichtman.