This retrospective of Abdullah Ibrahim's life in music is not only a great introdcution to the music of a giant of jazz but a fantastic album in itself. Drawing on recordings from 1979 to 1997, it covers a period of exile in Ibrahim's life - residing in America to escape the apartheid regime in his native South Africa - and his eventual return home.
Ibrahim occupies an unusual position at the more compostitional end of the Jazz scale, insofar that he writes his music not for the music's sake but to depict scenes, places and people. In my view, he is a modern day Sibelius, Smetena or Dvorak - his minuature "tone poems" are clearly heartfelt evocations of his beloved homeland. Typical of this is quietly reflective "The Mountain" - an orchestral arrangement (From "African Suite") closes the album in the most beguilingly beautiful way possible. Ibrahim's influences are clearly on show too. The self-explanatory (Both in a titular and musical sense) "For Monk" gives him a chance to show off his considerable pianistic talent, whilst tracks such as Pule and Chisa owe a debt, I think, to his mentor Duke Ellington. Whilst not on the Big Band scale of Ellington's compositions (Or Ibrahim's big band album "Ekapa Lodumo"), in these tracks Ibrahim's piano merely provides a musical home for his band members to launch their improvisatory sorties from. This compilation comes highly recommended, showcasing every facet of a great musician: exceptional pianist; composer of inspirational and evocative music, deeply rooted in the rythyms and textures of South Africa; a great band leader. Above all though, you can hear the passion for his homeland - Listen to the beautiful final track and if you don't become completely enraptured, then there's something wrong with you.
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