Abdullah IBRAHIM (Dollar Brand) - Africa - Tears And Laughter 1979 (REPOST)

Abdullah IBRAHIM (Dollar Brand) - Africa - Tears And Laughter 1979 (REPOST)
Label: Enja
Release Date: May 25, 2002

Jazz

I think, this is the first album after changing his name from Dollar Brand to Ibrahim. Alone the prayer Ishmael is worth to have this item, no matter if you are a Muslim or not(like me).
Sit down, close your eyes and relax - I garantee you will like to hear it again and again and again - time stands still.
By Manfred Kopischke.
**
Adolph Johannes Brand, 9 October 1934, Cape Town, South Africa. Ibrahim began playing piano as a small child, learning church music and hearing many other forms, including jazz, from radio and records. Known initially by the name Dollar Brand, he began his professional career in the mid-50s playing popular music of the day, but by the end of the decade had formed a band that included Hugh Masekela and concentrated on jazz. In the early 60s his political activities drew the attention of the authorities and he embarked upon a protracted visit to Europe with singer Sathima Bea Benjamin, whom he married. In Switzerland they attracted the much more benign and welcome attention of Duke Ellington, who helped arrange a recording session and opened other doors that led to appearances in the USA in the mid-60s. Later resident in New York City, Ibrahim played with leading exponents of free-form music, amongst them John Coltrane, Don Cherry and Ornette Coleman. He also continued to develop his involvement in politics and religion and in the late 60s he converted to Islam, subsequently adopting the name by which he has since been known. The banning of the African National Congress made it difficult for Ibrahim to retain close personal ties with his homeland but he returned there occasionally for recording sessions.

Despite the enforced separation from his roots Ibrahim continued to explore African music and the manner in which it could be blended with contemporary American jazz. As a consequence, his extensive performing and recording sessions, often of his own compositions, are shot through with rare intensity. In the early 80s Ibrahim expanded his musical horizons with the composition of an opera, Kalahari Liberation, which was performed throughout Europe to great acclaim. From the mid-80s his seven-piece band, Ekaya, has recorded and performed in concert and at festivals. As a performer, Ibrahim's playing of the piano (he also plays cello, flute and soprano saxophone) is vigorously rhythmic, intriguingly mixing bop with the music of his homeland and overlaid with touches of Ellington and Thelonious Monk. As a composer Ibrahim has ably and convincingly mixed the music of two cultures creating a distinctive style through which his highly motivated political and religious beliefs can be spread to a wide, mixed audience.
**
Abdullah Ibrahim- Piano
Greg Brown- Bass
John Betsch- Drums
Talib Qadr- Soprano & Alto Saxophones
*
01. Tsakve   1.32
02. The Perfumed Forest Wet With Rain   3.59
03. Ishmael   13.51
04. Did You Hear That Sound   9.12
05. Liberation Dance   4.34 
06. Imam   6.09
07. Tsakve   1.04
*
NoPassword
*
DLink
*