Search - Dollar Brand :: Anatomy of a South African

Meet the south african king of jazz piano!

JEAN-MARIE JUIF | BESANCON France | 08/02/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Here is one of the very great records by Dollar Brand/Abdullah Ibrahim.Just one of the best ones.Just an outstanding moment of music.
I saw and heard Abdullah IBrahim on stage,one month ago in Besançon,France,playing solo acoustic piano;two hours of the greatest music I've ever heard,and I heard a lot.Abdullah,born Adolph Johannes Brand in Cape Town,1934,is one of the greatest jazz piano players of all times,and one of the last great players still alive,with Hank Jones and Randy Weston.
It's a pity that some of his greatest recorded works are still not available on CD ("live at the Blackhawk with Carlos Ward","Dollar Brand"in Poland with Ward;the immense "autobiography",recorded in Switzerland,1978,is issued now on CD in Europe,but doesn't seem to be available in the USA).
This extremely magnificent album,recorded January 30,.1965,in Copenhagen,will let you listen to Abdullah's african music.Except for "smoke gets in your eyes",the rest of the program is made of african-oriented tunes,even if you can find here Monk's or Elmo Hope's or Herbie Nichols' or Duke's influences.THis south african trio,made of Abdullah,Johnny Gertze on bass and Makaya Ntshoko on drums (the trio which recorded the very great "Duke Ellington presents the Dollar Brand trio",Reprise label),this trio plays here some of the most haunting music ever played.The twenty minutes long suite,which includes "Boulevard East","sunset in blue" and "Easter joy" is a very high moment in the art of jazz,or simply improvised piano playing.Makaya Ntshoko's drive on drums is terrific,you could think of beeing listening to Max Roach or Sam Woodyard.Here is some very great music,by one of the most original jazz piano players.Absolutely essential!!!"

Best of both worlds

Brian Joseph OKelley | SF, CA | 07/21/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"soulfull free playing! more than your average composer's jazz, Dollar Brand makes music that brings together the past and the future, leaving behind any pretense or false obedience to obtuseness.His playing is natural and full of rhythmic variety, mixing familiar melodies and moods with an edgy willingness draw outside of the lines... sort of a cross between Cecil Taylor and Monk."