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Abdullah Ibrahim

Abdullah Ibrahim (aka Dollar Brand) pianist, composer, also plays flute, soprano sax, and cello, was born in Cape Town, South Africa in October 1934. He grew up with the Hymns, Gospel Songs and Spirituals of the American-influenced African Methodist Episcopal Church, and received private piano lessons from age seven.

He moved to Europe in 1962, playing in Zurich. His then wife-to-be Bea Benjamin persuaded Duke Ellington to hear him play, and Duke was so impressed that he arranged a recording session for him. His early influences included Thelonious Monk as well as Ellington.

He has been a constant figure in the jazz idiom working and recording in many settings and with various other name figures, ie: John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, Don Cherry, Sunny Murray, Johnny Dyani and Elvin Jones, to name a few.




Recommended recordings: "Fats, Duke & The Monk"Sackville SKCD 2-3048
"Water from an Ancient Well"Tip Toe TIP-888812-2
"Mindif"- original music from
the film "Chocolat"
Enja ENJ-79601-2
"African Dawn" Enja ENJCD-4030


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