in the past |

OLDER NEWS: May '97-Sept. '01

SEPTEMBER 24 , 2001:: The September-October U.S. tour has been cancelled causing dates in St. Paul, Cleveland and Chicago to be postponed. The printable poster mentioned in the 8/6 news item below will remain here as a downloadable for a few weeks.

AUGUST 27, 2001:: Part II. of the biographical summary has -finally- been published. (Of course every devotee who anticipates the full story will have to wait for the eventual publication of the biography being worked on now by Dr. Ibrahim and his biographer.) The second installment of the summary is here.

AUGUST 14, 2001:: I've put up a page with a pointer to emusic.com where six recordings are available as streaming 30 second previews (over 60 selections!) and where, either as a preview subscriber or regular subscriber, one can download the selections from 6 Enja-Tiptoe Recordings. emusic is able to provide this great opportunity through an arrangement with Koch International and Enja Records. (My hope is this will help compensate for the odd silence here on Mantra Modes, a quietude due to the constricted server space this web site utilizes.)

AUGUST 6, 2001:: As part of the underground promotional effort yours truly is revving up on behalf of Dr. Ibrahim's late September performance here in Cleveland, I've created a page with a poster for the show and a bit of rhetoric created for the many people who have no idea what this music is or is about. I use the metaphor of 'unlocking doors' to explain to sensitive souls why he or she should consider an encounter with this music.

JULY 23, 2001:: A personal note: your webmaster now has time to do updates here. I'm sorry, I did miss a few updates requested via email. Also: FEEL FREE FRIENDS to contribute your own reviews and reflections. All assistance immensely aids the scope of this project and will be greatly appreciated.

JULY 22, 2001:: Both EKAPA LODUMO, (Tiptoe 888840) and AFRICAN SYMPHONY, (Enja 9540) are out in Europe.

Among exciting concert announcements is one very close to home for your webmaster. Dr. Ibrahim will play September 30th and October 1st at Nighttown in Cleveland Heights (12383 Cedar Road, Cleveland Hts., Ohio 44106; (216) 795-0550).

More dates culled from Enja's listings:

August 9, Marciac (France), Festival
August 11, Brecon (UK-Wales), Jazz Festival
August 24, New York, NY, Lincoln Center, Damrusch Park
September 25-27, St. Paul, MN (USA), Dakota Bar & Grill
September 29, Chicago, IL (USA), Hot House
September 30-Oct. 1, Cleveland, OH (USA), Nighttown
November 20-25, NYC, Iridium Room
December 1, Hollywood, CA (USA), Egyptian Theater
December 2-3, Albuquerque, NM (USA), Outpost Performance Space
December 4, Taos, NM (USA), Community Auditorium
December 6-9, Oakland, CA, Yoshi's
April 19-21, 2002, Milwaukee, Symphony.

 JUNE 1, 2001:: Enja has issued AFRICAN SYMPHONY, (Enja 9540) in Europe. The recording refashions Dr. Ibrahim's suite of African themes for a full sized orchestra. The arrangements are by Daniel Schnyder. Barbara Yahr conducts the Munich Radio Symphony Orchestra. Abdullah Ibrahim is featured with his trio Marcus McLaurine on bass and George Gray on drums. A review is forthcoming.

MAY 18, 2001:: Enja is about to issue two new recordings. The first, EKAPA LODUMO, (Tiptoe 888840) features the NDR-Big band and Dr.Ibrahim playing compositions from the current touring program "The Cape of African Sound". (An essay summarizes this collaboration at the NDR web site.) Also to be issued soon is AFRICAN SYMPHONY, (Enja 9540).

Dr. Ibrahim, appointed a distinguished visiting professor at Gresham College, will give a talk at the Church of St Andrew, Holborn Circus London at 1pm on
the 21st May. (Thanks to a Mantra Modes-L subscriber for this note.)

A few more dates courtesy of Enja's listing:

June 6-10, 2001. Salisbury (UK), Festival
August 24, 2001. New York, NY, Lincoln Center, Damrusch Park
November 20-25, 2001. New York, NY, Iridium Room
December 6-9, 2001. Oakland, CA, Yoshi's

May 17, 2001::Jazz Valley has sent notice of four upcoming performances:

May 24, 2001 7:30 PM Abdullah Ibrahim NDR Big Band
Barbican Center, London, Great Britain
May 25, 2001 9:30 PM Abdullah Ibrahim & The NDR Big Band
Salle Marcel Hélie, Coutances, France
July 6, 2001 8:30 PM Abdullah Ibrahim & The NDR Big Band
Grande Halle de la Villette, Paris, France
August 9, 2001 9:00 PM Abdullah Ibrahim Trio
Chapiteau du JIM, Marciac, France

APRIL 27, 2001::Jazz Valley has sent notice of two upcoming performances:

July 6, 2001 8:30 PM Abdullah Ibrahim & The NDR Big Band
Grande Halle de la Villette, Paris, France
August 9, 2001 9:00 PM Abdullah Ibrahim Trio
Chapiteau du JIM, Marciac, France  

MARCH 26, 2001::Abdullah Ibrahim has once again been nominated for the 2002 JazzPar Prize.

MARCH 24, 2001::Jazz Valley has sent notice of three upcoming performances:

April 10-14, 2001 9:00 PM Abdullah Ibrahim Trio
The Jazz Standard, New York, New York, U.S. 
April 19-20, 2001 9:00 PM Abdullah Ibrahim Trio
Moods, Zürich, Switzerland 
May 25, 2001 9:30 PM Abdullah Ibrahim & The Ndr Big Band Salle Marcel Hélie, Coutances, France 

MARCH 14 , 2001::Your webmaster is playing catch-up; here is a brief bevy of news briefs:

(1) Universal/Polygram Classics reissued in mid-January the very fine solo piano date from October 1969, <AFRICAN PIANO>. Originally issued as Japo 60002, it is important documentation of the pianist at his most adventurous.

(2) Nascente Records (UK) has obtained rights to distribute <THE VERY BEST OF ABDULLAH IBRAHIM in Europe. A review previously appeared on this site.

(3) JazzValley.Com has informed Mantra Modes of an upcoming performance April 30, 2001 at 8:00 PM of Abdullah Ibrahim Trio Abbaye de l'Epau, Le Mans, France. More info.

JANUARY , 2001::The webmaster sends his (belated) wishes for a joyous and peaceful new year to all our friends 'in music'. The new real millenial year shall, God Willing, offer up a number of new initiatives here.

First up: a new page has been created to anthologize your own reflections on Dr.Ibrahim's artistry and music. Please feel free to submit a short reflection via email.

Second, all older news from 1998 and 1999 has been archived on a separate page.

Stay tuned for further developments! Finally, thank you to the thousands, from 69 different countries, who have spent a moment here since 1997.

JANUARY 18 , 2001::Lars Rasmussen has made a brief report. "Abdullah Ibrahim and Norddeutscher Rundfunk's Bigband (that is the big band of North German Radio Corporation) recorded material this summer for a CD which should be out on ENJA in January."

Lars also says he is putting the finishing touches on the second edition of the Abdullah Ibrahim discography. In addition, he has initiated the the Booktraders Jazzprofiles series with: Sathima Bea Benjamin: Embracing Jazz. The book includes her new recording and a second disc compiled from older music.It's available from Booktraders.


OCTOBER 31 , 2000::A wonderful Real Audio/Video interview with Dr. Ibrahim is presented on a page on the BBC's web site. The flavor of the artist's personality is made apparent; check it out!

OCTOBER 13 , 2000::Enja Records maintains pages on behalf of Abdullah Ibrahim. The pages encompass a profile page and pages for each Enja recording. Recent news is noted on the profile page, and this page includes this latest addition worth noting:

"A great honor has been bestowed on Abdullah Ibrahim when the renowned Gresham College in London invited him to give several lectures and concerts (beginning in October 2000 at Canary Wharf). Among his predecessors at the famed institution which looks back at a history of 500 years are John Cage, Luciano Berio, Xenakis."

OCTOBER 12 , 2000:: More additions to the current tour schedule of Abdullah Ibrahim, courtesy of Enja Records. The full list is available on Enja's web site: tour dates

OCT.19-Manchester (UK)
OCT.23-Art Center-Warwick (UK)
OCT.25-Canary Wharf, London (UK)
OCT.27- -Brighton (UK)
NOV.1/18-South African tour
NOV.21/26-Iridium, NYC (US)
NOV.28/30-Dakota Jazz Club, St.Paul, Mn (US)
DEC.1/3-Yoshi's, Oakland, Ca (US)

OCTOBER 12 , 2000:: Trumpeter Feya Faku, who appears on three recent Abdullah Ibrahim recordings, has made his own debut, HOMMAGE (Sheer Sound/A Records), and dedicates a song to his mentor entitled "Mr. Ibrahim". The recording features an international quintet configured in classic acoustic form: trumpet-tenor-piano-bass-drums. They play smoothly rendered South African jazz. The record is available at One
World, ZA.

AUGUST 31 , 2000::Two new anthologies, compiled by experts close to the music, have recently been issued. THE VERY BEST OF ABDULLAH IBRAHIM, compiled by Nigel Williamson, and THE BEST OF ABDULLAH IBRAHIM, compiled by Rashid Vally earn reviews here on Mantra Modes.

July 11 , 2000:: CAPE TOWN REVISITED, the new record by Abdullah Ibrahim and his African Trio with guest, trumpeter Feya Faku, has been issued in the United States June 11. (It was released in Europe in March.) This latest installment of the beguiling sound of South Africa tendered by the masterful composer and pianist includes the debut of a new suite, "Cape Town to Congo Square" as well as familiar and favored themes. Recorded in performance in 1997, the record captures Ibrahim's working trio, Marcus McLaurine on bass, and George Gray on drums, before an appreciative South African audience. Trumpeter Faku's presence on three songs is especially notable. This is the first time the trio has featured a guest on record, and Faku's brass work truly takes flight during several bright solos. (An overview of the recording is available on this web site.)

May 12 , 2000:: Here are some additions to the current tour schedule of Abdullah Ibrahim, courtesy of Enja Records. The full list is available on Enja's web site: tour dates.

May 14.. Paris (France), Salle des Concerts
May 19. Boswil Foundation (Switzerland)
June 2. Dakar (Senegal), St. Louis Festival
June 23.. Hannover, Raschplatz-Pavillon (Germany)
June 24.. Hamburg, NDR Open Air, (Germany)
June 25. Verona (Italy), Jazz Festival
June 27-30. Jazz à Vienne, (Austria)
July 17-21. Scandinavian tour
July 22. Wigan (UK)
July 24.. Essen, Klavier-Festival Ruhr, (Germany)
July 25. Ravenna (Italy), Festival
July 26. Roma (Italy), Villa-Ada Festival
July 27. Minori (Italy)
Sept. 4. Seattle (USA), Bumbershoot Festival
Sept 11-14. Cape Town (ZA), Baxter Theater
Oct. 1-5. UK Tour
Oct. 6-10. Tour in Greece
Oct. 10-12. Gen¶ve (Switzerland), Victoria Hall
Oct. 14. Schongau, Festival
Nov. 25. Northridge, CA (USA), Cal-State
Nov. 28-30. St. Paul (USA), Dakota Jazz Club
Dec. 1-3. Oakland, CA (USA), Yoshi's

May 11 , 2000:: A version of "Mannenberg" by pianist Joe McBride is included on a new CD on the Heads Up label SMOOTH AFRICA. It takes its place on this compilation of contemporary smooth jazz flavored by the music of South Africa and includes contributions from many of the country's most prominent musicians.

April 24, 2000:: Abdullah Ibrahim's new record, CAPE TOWN REVISITED has been released for the Canandian market by Justin Time Records in Canada. It was released in March in Europe by Enja Records. There is a news release, track listing, and a 1:40 minutesample of "African Street Parade" available on Enja's web site. Release through Koch International for the United States is scheduled for June. (A review is forthcoming.)

April 19 , 2000:: The M7 home page has been updated. "The M7 Academy is founded upon the principles of promoting excellence and leadership in the training and development of the musical arts, especially jazz and African heritage music, to enable participants to learn, create, perform, teach, manage, and generally contribute to the appreciation, production, and promotion of a sound musical culture in South Africa." For more information about this important project at the core of Dr. Ibrahim's current commitments, a visit to the M7 page is highly recommended!

April 17 , 2000:: A new compilation, THE BEST OF ABDULLAH IBRAHIM has popped up at oneworld.co.za, the South African online music retailer. The tracks are: "Bra Timing From Phomolong", "Mannenberg", "Bayi Lam","Blues For A Hip King", "Woza Mtwana","Little Boy","Tintinyana","The Wedding","African Sun","Chisa" but the listing at oneworld.co does not specify from what dates the tracks are taken. (April 25 update: Lars Rasmussen informs the Mantra Modes mailing list that the compilation was produced by Rashid Vally, A.I.'s South African producer and head of The Sun Records, for whom he records.)

April 14 , 2000:: World Music Network has issued a compilation, ROUGH GUIDE TO SOUTH AFRICAN JAZZ. It contains "African Marketplace" and this is taken from CAPETOWN FLOWERS, a trio date made for TipToe/Enja in 1996. The 16 track anthology includes historic as well as recent vintage recordings aimed at representing the flavor of both 'jazz' oriented music as well as popular forms based in the melding of jazz and township and urban popular musics. Not heretofor available in North America, the somewhat rare tracks are the pennywhistle workout by Lemmy Special ("See You Later"), West Nkosi's "Marabi kwela", and an atmospheric piece by Sipho Mabuse, "Thaba Bosiu". There are also fine selections by Chris McGregor, Bheki Msleku, and the Jazz Epistles ("Twelve Times Twelve") as well as nine additional, intriguing, tracks.

March 9 , 2000:: There are two locations at which authorized mp3's may be purchased and downloaded. At musicmaker.com the Abdullah Ibrahim pages offer 76 full downloads, courtesy of Enja Records, Koch International, and the artist. RealAudio samples are also provided for each track listed. At music.excite.com, the musicmaker list is included as well as links for downloads in Windows Media Player format. Also, there are links to free samples available at realguide.real.com in Real Audio's streaming mp3 format, Real Jukebox (Windows compatible only). The cost for each track is $1, so if you're here as a matter of curiosity about this music, now's your chance to grab a taste...or two. Here's a place to start, roaring town ship swing, "Mandela" , a 30 second sample in RealAudio.

older news

February 26, 2000:: Lars Rasmussen has reported on the Mantra Modes discussion list that Enja/TipToe will issue in March a live recording of the trio and quartet (with Feya Faku on trumpet). The recording, titled CAPE TOWN REVISITED was recorded in December 1997. The tracks include: "District Six Carnival", "Too-Kah", "African Street Parade", "Damara Blue", "Some Day Soon Sweet Samba", "Song for Sathima", "Tuang Guru", "Water From an Ancient Well", "The Mountain", "The Wedding", "Barakaat, Eleventh Hour", "Soweto", "Tsakwe-Royal Blue", and "Tintinyanat".

February 16, 2000:: Van Richter Records/GlobalFulfillment lists a new issue of Abdullah Ibrahim, CAPE TOWN REVISITED. I have not received confirmation from Tip Toe that this record, due out this spring, is in fact a world-wide release of his South African recording, TOWN SHIP ONE MORE TIME More current information will be made available.

February 15, 2000:: Yarona Productions has published a clip from a promotional video that features a solo piano version of "Shosholoza" (from TOWN SHIP ONE MORE TIME) in collaboration with a marvelous dance solo. It's a RealVideo clip and may be viewed here: yarona.com.

February 14, 2000: More current year 2000 tour information has become available courtesy of Enja Records. More information will be noted as it becomes available.

May 16: Basel (CH), Elisabethen-Kirche
June 12: Salzau, Jazz Baltica
June 23: Hannover, Raschplatz-Pavillon June 24:. Hamburg, NDR Open Air
July 15: Lissabon (Portugal)

February 1, 2000:: Swiss pianist Irene Schweizer has recorded a tribute to Abdullah Ibrahim, "One For Dollar" on her new recording of live duets with percussionist Mani Neumeier, EUROPEAN MASTERS OF IMPROVISATION, Captain Trip #9790230. It is a wonderful reminder of how Ms. Schweizer's work has mined great sympathies out of the Cape Town tinge of of Abdullah Ibrahim.

January 12, 2000: (Happy New Year! May the year, for you, be blessed with music, peace, and human touch. SC)

December 8, 1999:: [Note from the webmaster] Abdullah Ibrahim's Mantra Modes has been enjoying several weeks of terrific interest. The trend line for visits has doubled. For your information, fans of this music have 'surfed' to this site from over 38 different countries! As the person behind this labor of love, my gratitude is yours my friends in music. Thank you! Feel free to email me, and consider joining the collaborative effort, the Mantra Modes discussion list. Joining is easy through the link on this site. the list is low key and low volume but full of f interesting commentary, information, and recollections. [Stephen]

December 4, 1999:: Tiptoe/Enja is planning to release a new recording by Abdullah Ibrahim in early 2000. CAPE TOWN REVISITED is the title. More details will be revealed soon.

September 13, 1999:: A few other dates gleened from Enja's listing: the tour of South Africa happens this month September; moves on to a brief European tour from October 3-10; then crosses the ocean for a special appearance at The World Music Festival of the Caribbean, Trinidad. Unspecified dates are mentioned for performances of the African Trio and Chamber Orchestra for the San Fransisco area in late October. On November 11th, a performance is scheduled for Spivey Hall in Atlanta (Georgia, USA). The trio is at Dakota's Jazz Club in St. Paul (Minnesota, USA) November 30, 31, December 1, 2; and then to a favored home away from home, Yoshi's, in Oakland (California, USA) December 3, 4, 5. A special event is planned for the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. on December 10. More details will be presented here as they are learned.

September 11, 1999:: Abdullah Ibrahim will perform for the first time his "Knysna Suite", with Ekaya and a 20-piece orchestra in the Leipzig Opera House (GDR) on October 2; address and contact: Augustusplatz 12 04109 Leipzig Phone: 0341-12610 Fax: 0341-1261300..

August 20, 1999:: Stephen Calhoun previews TOWNSHIP ONE MORE TIME as a guest of Dan Poletta on WCPN-fm, NPR's Cleveland affiliate (90.3) at 10pm 8/24.

August 18, 1999:: Koch International is now distributing AFRICAN DAWN, (1982:Enja 4030), at a midline price to the North American market. It is one of the essential solo piano dates and presents favored themes in discrete versions. A sublime and stirring reading of "Blues for A Hip King" announces a very special fifty minutes of pure African tradition. It's essential; a capsule review is here.

August 10, 1999:: The Schal Sick Brass Band has recorded a marvelous, rollicking version of "African Marketplace" on their World Network record, MAJNOUN, now available in the US.

August 1, 1999:: TOWN SHIP - ONE MORE TIME the joyous recording released in South Africa last year has captured my attention for the past week. It is wonderful and is previewed here.

July 7, 1999:: The Mantra_Modes-L mailing list has been activated. If you'd like to participate, joining is a snap through the link on this site. The announcement made to the three appropriate groups on usenet recently is at the bottom of that page. If you are a fan of this music or are curious, consider checking the new mailing list out.

July 6, 1999:: "I would like to let you know that your "Mantra Modes" web site has been chosen to receive one of the first "Best of the Web" awards from Hear.Com, a new music database dedicated to music that matters. Our new music project is dedicated to finding the best information on the web and making it known to more people." (Cliff Furnald, editor, HEAR.com

My appreciation goes out to Rootsworld, Hear.com, & Mr. Furnald. ROOTSWORLD is one of my most favored music resources; it's scope is global and heartfelt.

July 5, 1999:: Enja Records will release AFRICAN SUITE in the United States on June 20. The fine recording's catalogue number is TipToe 888832-2 and is available as an advance order from the usual online sources.

July 4, 1999:: I've culled some details about a free performance to be held on July 24 at Rock Creek Park's Carter Barron Amphitheatre featuring the African Trio and chamber orchestra. The amphitheatre is in Washington, D.C. (directions). info: 202-393-2700. "The National Park Service and District Curators present A Duke Ellington Tribute with Abdullah Ibrahim's "Africa Suite", The Dance Institute of Washington, and the Levine Jazz Ensemble. "

June 30, 1999:: On this last day of June, I'm pleased to announce some new participatory initiatives here on Mantra Modes. I hope all friends of this music and the creative peoples' arts will consider connecting through them to Abdullah Ibrahim's Mantra Modes, and, above all, to each other. Also, the web 'thumbnail' discographical guide has been published.

June 29, 1999::Some dates for upcoming concerts, gleaned from Enja's summary of Abdullah Ibrahim appearances: July 7. Washington, D.C. "African Suite" trio with The Urban Philharmonic; August 8. Detroit, Symphony Hall. As more information becomes available, details will be provided.

June 5, 1999::Jean Pierre Leduc at Justin Time Records, Canada's premier creative music label, told me that AFRICAN SUITE, released by Justin Time in Canada in January, will not be distributed to the United States by Justin Time. However, it should be available to music lovers in the US via Canadian retailers with a web presence. I will be contacting my two favorite Canadian web record stores, ~Verge Distribution, and Cheap Thrills, to suggest that they carry the record, if they do not already. Clarification from Koch and Enja about the record's release date in the USA will be noted here shortly.

May 30, 1999::Abdullah Ibrahim & The European Youth Orchestra will appear at July 3 in Weimar, Germany to present "The African Suite". More details will be, hopefully, forthcoming.

May 29, 1999::Abdullah Ibrahim and master percussionist Max Roach meet for two duo concerts in Switzerland. They will appear on May 31 at 8pm at Town Hall in Zurich, and follow that date up with a performance in Gent at Victora Hall at 8pm. For more information: AllBlues, the presenter, is on the web

May 27, 1999::Noted in a new release listing for the largest distributor in the US, are entries for two compilations, THE MOUNTAIN and JAZZIN AFRICA VOLUME 1. Both these records have been available as imports on Camden (UK), but, evidently, their availability in the US is about to be improved. THE MOUNTAIN reissues parts of EKAYA and WATER FROM A ANCIENT WELL. The debut of Ekaya, originally made for Ekapa Records in 1983, is one of the greatest of Ibrahim's ensemble records. On this Camden reissue of a reissue, the listener is treated to five of six tracks from EKAYA and five of eight tracks from WATER FROM A ANCIENT WELL. Hopefully this will herald future access to the rest of the Camden reissues, including many of the essential records recorded in South Africa. This would hopefully include JAZZ IN AFRICA VOLUME 2, and that record's epic 23 minute "Kalahari".

May 17, 1999::The Abdullah Ibrahim Trio and I Musici de Montreal will present "African Suite" in the Les Grandes Concerts Series of the 20th Montreal International Jazz Festival. This very special presentation will take place on Friday, July 9th at 6p.m. at The ThŽ‰tre Maisonneuve. East coasters: this does call for a road trip. (You know who you are!) For more information: Montreal Jazz Festival on the web

May 15, 1999::The ambitious reissue compilers at World Network have put together a two disc set drawn from eight of Abdullah Ibrahim's Enja recordings and issued under the (unfortunately) misleading title, GOOD NEWS FROM AFRICA. I have not seen the set yet, but the title suggests that it is a reissue of the fine duo recording made with Johnny Dyani in 1973. Instead, it is a two disc compilation that includes two tracks from the duo date with Dyani. However, unlike the compilation made up of ensemble recordings and released in 1996 on Jazzfest, these recordings do offer a taste of the full scope of the Enja dates as they travel the breadth of African tradition realized by Ibrahim's music. It includes piano solos, duos, trios, small combos including the Ekaya sextet and septet. Even a two disc set is no substitute for the original records, but this is a fine place to jump into the river.

May 4, 1999:: Very exciting news, Abdullah ibrahim's M7 Project has been organized in Capetown and is about to commence. alhamdulli'lah!

"The M7 Academy is founded upon the principles of promoting excellence and leadership in the training and development of the musical arts, especially jazz and African heritage music, to enable participants to learn, create, perform, teach, manage, and generally contribute to the appreciation, production, and promotion of a sound musical culture in South Africa."

May 2, 1999::Music Club has issued a compilation FREEDOM BLUES - JAZZ IN SOUTH AFRICA DURING APARTHEID with one track by Abdullah Ibrahim, "Bombella", originally issued on ZIMBABWE, Enja rec.1983. It covers a broad swath of South African jazz from 1959 to the post-apartheid late 90's and includes tracks recorded in South Africa and tracks recorded by ex-patriot musicians. Although one could quibble with selections, (especially the inclusion of Jazz Epistles sides with pianist John Mehegan instead of Ibrahim,) the inclusion of many very rare tracks and the dirth of available recorded overviews make this essential. Most welcome is Munkuku Ngozi's famed "Yakhal Inkomo", a tribute to John Coltrane.

::April 29 , 1999::Andrew Hollo, producer of Hybrid on PBSfm (106.7) in Melbourne, Australia will feature music and excerpts from an interview on Sunday, May 2, 8:30pm, local time.

::March 29, 1999::Having absorbed AFRICAN SUITE over the last seven weeks, I've served up some impressions. The record is scheduled to be released in May in the USA. (Thanks to Koch International for supplying me with a copy.)

::March 27, 1999:: Now available in the US, is Westwind's reissue on compact disc of one of the pianist's most beautiful dates, ODE TO DUKE ELLINGTON, originally recorded for Nippon-Phonogram in 1973. It is an affectionate letting of the song out of the heart.

::January 31, 1999:: Norddeutscher Rundfunk (North German Broadcasting), one of the major German radiostations, is doing a 10-hour long presentation of Abdullah; it will be a series of 10 1-hour long programs dedicated only to Abdullah's music, presented by Bert Noglik, who is head of the Leipzig Opera House. The first program will be on Feb 12. (L.R. reports from Denmark)

::January 30, 1999:: Developments are fast moving these days. The Mail & Guardian notes that a recording was released last year in South Africa. Philip Kakaza writes,

"World-famous jazz pianist Abdullah Ibrahim's career has reached a new, exuberant pitch in South Africa with his latest release, Township One More Time (EMI/As-Shams). As the title indicates, it was recorded here and features a range of local talents: Denver Furness (drums), Gary Kriel (bass), Jimmy Adams and Harold Jeffta (alto sax), Feya Faku (trumpet) and David Robain (tenor sax)."

Released in May in ZA.

::January 29, 1999:: Abdullah Ibrahim's latest record for Tiptoe/Enja has been issued (in Germany in November) and will be issued sometime in the late spring, here in the US. AFRICAN SUITE is the first recording joining Ekaya with an orchestra, and follows on the heels of number of performances over the past several years presenting similar ambitious commitments. This is not a new direction, however. The composer and arranger has long been creatively engaged by such possibilities, going back to the days of the 'The Aloe and the Wild Rose Suite' and the 'Kalahari Liberation Opera'. In fact, the reservoir of large-scale compositions and orchestrations lie as the mass of an iceberg does, just under the surface of much of the music presented over more than thirty years. On this project, Abdullah Ibrahim has been aided by the talented musician, arranger and conductor, Daniel Schnyder. The collaboration between the two has been gathering creative momentum for several years, and now effects what is a signal moment in the recorded documentation of Ibrahim's peoples' music. (For more information, Enja Records has a web gateway, or directly jump to the page concerning the new record.) Availability is limited in the United States, but, several import specialists may be contacted.

::December 11, 1998:: Through the kindness of Lars Rasmussen, here's a sketch of Abdullah Ibrahim's anticipated activities and projects in 1999: "The African Suite" (trio + string orchestra) is being prepared to be performed in the early Spring in Europe at a location to be announced. Ekaya will be reformed in the States in April - they will perform as a septet and on some occasions along with a bigband. In May and June Abdullah will tour Europe with Max Roach. In September a new suite Knysna Blue will be performed in Europe and possibly also in Cape Town."

::December 1, 1998:: Lars Rasmussen has notified me that his authorized A.I. discography has been published. More information about his important work, and how to obtain it: contact Lars Rasmussen via the web. *I have decided not to publish any detailed discographic information here in lieu of the availability of this comprehensive discography, but instead will publish a thumbnail guide to available recordings. *web guide published June 1999

::October 17, 1998:: Noted are reissues of two fine solo piano recordings on Westwind, MEMORIES and ODE TO DUK ELLINGTON.

::September 1, 1998:: Research on the web has revealed that Abdullah Ibrahim is in the midst of significant recording projects matching his compositions for ensemble and orchestra with sympathetic musicians, conductors, recordists and producers in South Africa and Germany.

::August 3, 1998:: Abdullah Ibrahim's performances at various presentations of the Womad Festival have turned out to be exceptionally notable, especially as his trio's finest moments have crystallized under difficult conditions (open air concerts, etc.) just what central place a "Peoples' Music" based in African tradition occupies in so-called 'world music'.

::June 30, 1997:: Discovery Records has reissued one of the rarest and most important early trio recordings, DUKE ELLINGTON PRESENTS THE DOLLAR BRAND TRIO, originally released by Reprise Records in 1964.

::May 13, 1997:: TipToe and Ekapa have issued Abdullah Ibrahim's latest recording, CAPE TOWN FLOWERS. It's a stunning and elegiac outburst of African tradition.

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