Abdullah Ibrhin

Abdullah Ibrahim (born Adolph Johannes Brand on 9 October 1934 and formerly known as Dollar Brand) is a South African pianist and composer. His music reflects many of the musical influences of his childhood in the multicultural port areas of Cape Town, ranging from traditional African songs to the gospel of the AME Church and ragas, to more modern jazz and other Western styles. Ibrahim is considered the leading figure in the subgenre Cape jazz.

Abdullah Ibrahim (born Adolph Johannes Brand on 9 October 1934 and formerly known as Dollar Brand) is a South African pianist and composer. His music reflects many of the musical influences of his childhood in the multicultural port areas of Cape Town, ranging from traditional African songs to the gospel of the AME Church and ragas, to more modern jazz and other Western styles. Ibrahim is considered the leading figure in the subgenre Cape jazz.

Taken from his summer 2023 sold-out headline date at London's Barbican Centre, the new album "3" follows suit and is spread across two performances - the first is recorded without an audience recorded ahead of the concert straight to analogue on a 1" Scully tape machine, which had previously been used by Elvis at the famous Memphis-based Sun Studios. The second recording is taken from the evening's performance itself with Ibrahim performing in a unique trio which includes Cleave Guyton (flute, piccolo, saxophone) who has performed alongside the likes of Aretha Franklin, Dizzy Gillespie, and Joe Henderson, as well as lauded bassist and cellist Noah Jackson, both of which are members of Ekaya and featured on Ibrahim's top 3 Billboard Jazz album "The Balance".

This marvellous album from Abdullah Ibrahim (aka Dollar Brand) is as good way as any to start listening to this great South African Jazz Pianist. Listen to 'Sweet Basil Blues', its instantly catchy and it sounds very simple (probably fiendishly difficult actually!), and it certainly has a blues influence. All of Abdullah's self-penned tracks are like this. The musicians playing with him are of all of the highest quality, amongst the better known are Blue Mitchell and Basil Coetzee.
Abdullah actually stood in for Duke Ellington in the early 60's, and his influence and Monk's can certainly be heard in his Piano playing. On a few tracks here Abdullah gives a nod to that American influence, playing covers of two Monk tunes, and some of his own compositions are clearly Monk/Ellington inspired.