Abdullah Ibrahim

September 23, 2010

Abdullah Ibrahim

Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on September 2010 A leading figure in the struggle against apartheid, pianist Abdullah Ibrahim arrives in Tokyo to perform at one of the city’s finer concert halls. The Cape Town native, known in his early days as “Dollar Brand” for his habit of buying jazz LPs off US sailors, was discovered […]

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Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on September 2010

© Manfred Rinderspracher

A leading figure in the struggle against apartheid, pianist Abdullah Ibrahim arrives in Tokyo to perform at one of the city’s finer concert halls. The Cape Town native, known in his early days as “Dollar Brand” for his habit of buying jazz LPs off US sailors, was discovered by Duke Ellington in the ’60s. Ibrahim spent many years of exile in New York before returning to South Africa and performing at the inauguration of Nelson Mandela. His deliberate, multihued African style was most recently heard on Abdullah Ibrahim & Ekaya: Sotho Blue, and he’s also featured in a new NHK documentary.

Abdullah Ibrahim
South African pianist blending jazz, gospel and traditional African influences. Sep 29, 7pm, ¥6,500. Suntory Hall, Roppongi-Itchome. Tel: Sunrise Promotion 0570-00-3337.