Abdullah Ibrahim (born 1934, Cape Town, South Africa), formerly known as Ad… Read Full Bio ↴Abdullah Ibrahim (born 1934, Cape Town, South Africa), formerly known as Adolph Johannes Brand, and as Dollar Brand (from a popular brand of cigarettes), is a South African pianist and composer. His music reflects many of the musical influences of his childhood in the multicultural port areas of Cape Town, ranging from traditional African songs to the gospel of the AME Church and ragas, to more modern jazz and other Western styles. He first received piano lessons at the age of seven, was an avid consumer of jazz records brought by American sailors, and was playing jazz professionally by 1949. In 1959 and 1960, he played alongside Kippie Moeketsi with The Jazz Epistles in Sophiatown before joining the European tour of the musical King Kong.
In 1962 during a tour of Europe, Duke Ellington heard “The Dollar Brand Trio” playing in Zürich's “Africana Club”. As a result, a recording was set up with Reprise Records; “Duke Ellington presents The Dollar Brand Trio”. The Dollar Brand Trio (with Johnny Gertze on bass and Makaya Ntshoko on drums) subsequently played at many European festivals, as well as on radio and television.
He briefly returned to South Africa in the mid-1970s after his conversion to Islam (and the resultant change of name from Dollar Brand to Abdullah Ibrahim); however, he soon returned to New York in 1976, as he found the political conditions too oppressive. While in South Africa, however, he made a series of recordings with noted Cape Town jazz players (including Basil Coetzee and Robbie Jansen). This included Coetzee's masterpiece, "Mannenberg", acknowledged by most as one of South Africa's greatest musical compositions; the recording soon became an unofficial soundtrack to the anti-apartheid resistance.
Abdullah Ibrahim has written the soundtracks for a number of films, including the award winning Chocolat and, more recently, No Fear, No Die. Since the end of apartheid, he now lives in South Africa and divides his time between his global concert circuit, New York, and South Africa.
Abdullah Ibrahim is a towering figure in South African music, an artist who brings together all its traditions with a deeply felt understanding of American jazz, from the orchestral richness of Duke Ellington's compositions for big band to the groundbreaking innovations of Ornette Coleman and the 1960s avant-garde.
Ibrahim has worked as a solo performer, typically in mesmerising unbroken concerts that echo the unstoppable impetus of the old marabi performers. He also performs regularly with trios and quartets and larger orchestral units. Since his triumphant return to South Africa in the early 1990s, he has been feted with symphony orchestra performances, one of which was in honour of Nelson Mandela's installation as President. He has also founded a school for South African musicians in Cape Town.
With his wife, the jazz singer Sathima Bea Benjamin, he is father to the New York underground rapper Jean Grae, as well as to a son, Tsakwe.
In 1962 during a tour of Europe, Duke Ellington heard “The Dollar Brand Trio” playing in Zürich's “Africana Club”. As a result, a recording was set up with Reprise Records; “Duke Ellington presents The Dollar Brand Trio”. The Dollar Brand Trio (with Johnny Gertze on bass and Makaya Ntshoko on drums) subsequently played at many European festivals, as well as on radio and television.
He briefly returned to South Africa in the mid-1970s after his conversion to Islam (and the resultant change of name from Dollar Brand to Abdullah Ibrahim); however, he soon returned to New York in 1976, as he found the political conditions too oppressive. While in South Africa, however, he made a series of recordings with noted Cape Town jazz players (including Basil Coetzee and Robbie Jansen). This included Coetzee's masterpiece, "Mannenberg", acknowledged by most as one of South Africa's greatest musical compositions; the recording soon became an unofficial soundtrack to the anti-apartheid resistance.
Abdullah Ibrahim has written the soundtracks for a number of films, including the award winning Chocolat and, more recently, No Fear, No Die. Since the end of apartheid, he now lives in South Africa and divides his time between his global concert circuit, New York, and South Africa.
Abdullah Ibrahim is a towering figure in South African music, an artist who brings together all its traditions with a deeply felt understanding of American jazz, from the orchestral richness of Duke Ellington's compositions for big band to the groundbreaking innovations of Ornette Coleman and the 1960s avant-garde.
Ibrahim has worked as a solo performer, typically in mesmerising unbroken concerts that echo the unstoppable impetus of the old marabi performers. He also performs regularly with trios and quartets and larger orchestral units. Since his triumphant return to South Africa in the early 1990s, he has been feted with symphony orchestra performances, one of which was in honour of Nelson Mandela's installation as President. He has also founded a school for South African musicians in Cape Town.
With his wife, the jazz singer Sathima Bea Benjamin, he is father to the New York underground rapper Jean Grae, as well as to a son, Tsakwe.
Mandela
Abdullah Ibrahim Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Mandela' by these artists:
CyHi The Prynce I'm a freedom fighter, darling I'm from the win supply I'm…
Danyél Waro Kwé i lé Granmounté Mandela? Kwé i lé Granmounté? Amont…
Elams La rue n'a aucun trophée Pourtant on a trop fait Putain, on…
Farafina " Elinden bir şey gelmiyorsa, Aşktan için yanıpta sönmüyorsa…
Fenn Trois mois j’ai arrêté la bedave Crois moi c'est dur comme…
Gaboro De Gaboro wlak Mandela backa bak det min era Favela trycker …
Harrysong Hey hey hey Hey madiba Hey hey hey Hey madiba Tears gone by …
Homo Twist Nelson Mandela wydaje raut dziś Pierwszy z gratulacjami pch…
Hugh Masekela Bring back Nelson Mandela Bring him back home to Soweto I wa…
Luca Barbarossa Vorrei vedere dalla mia finestra Il cielo ed il sole E le…
Mac Tyer Ça pue toujours la pisse dans mon palier Pas d'paparazzis i…
Margherita Vicario Sola, sola Non mi ricordo a che ora Nella notte buia Io non…
Maze Mandela mandela when will they set you free Why it has…
Mzwakhe Mbuli [feat. Zahara] Akekho Akekho There's no one like him Akekho Akekho There's…
NX Zero Viver no pecado, ou não E mentir na oração É melhor explodir…
o.b.f Now, this one is a tribute to the great warrior Foundation…
Pcam Woah, woah woah I'm coming harder then ever (Aye) Gimme the …
Raillow Olha só quem eu vi lá, desceu com as amigas…
Santana We haven't lyrics of this song. Please, add these lyrics…
SBMG Al m'n jongens zijn strijder als Mandela Al m'n jongens zijn…
SBMG feat. Sevn Alias Louis D-Double Lijpe & Hef Dela ey dela ey Als Mandela Mandela Al me jongens zijn stri…
Todos Tus Muertos Mandela Todos Tus Muertos. Oh que placer, ver el aparthe…
Tom Franke I feel like free Mandela Jump oh jump ayo So i dance…
Zahara Akekho Akekho There's no one like him Akekho Akekho There's…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Abdullah Ibrahim:
Blue Bolero العواطف عم تتشتت الحبُ عما يسترسل ملاگ النشل موجود . ف…
Blue Bolero (Fragment 2) العواطف عم تتشتت الحبُ عما يسترسل ملاگ النشل موجود . ف…
Come Sunday Ooh Lord, dear Lord above, God almighty, God of love, pleas…
Don't Blame Me Ever since the lucky night I found you I've hung around…
Guilty Though you've decided that our love is wrong And think that…
In a Sentimental Mood In A Sentimental Mood I can see the stars come…
Just You Just Me Just you, just me Let's find a cozy spot To cuddle and…
Ntsikana's Bell Ueeeeee uaglio 'o Sfacimm d kittamuort Bella regaaaaa Saluta…
Solitude In my solitude You haunt me With dreadful ease Of days gone …
Tintinyana Berurier Noir Abracadaboum Ibrahim Ibrahim avec ses frère…
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