Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
African Sketchbook is a superb example of the kind of solo concerts Abdullah Ibrahim (then known as Dollar Brand) performed early in his career. They were lengthy, non-stop affairs with pieces strung together end on end, sometimes repeated, sometimes with interpolations from Monk or Ellington, and always supremely creative and moving. He would often introduce the evenings with a composition for flute, as is the case here with the gorgeous "Air." After that, it's wave upon wave of songs. Some are rhythmically propulsive numbers with Ibrahim vamping for all he's worth with the left hand while deftly evoking aspects of South Africa with the right. The songs tend to have a basis that may strike Western listeners as gospel-related while, in fact, it's gospel that shows these same African roots. Other pieces have tinges of 20th century European classical music and some, like "Sadness," are simply and astoundingly beautiful. When the album ends with a repetition of the invocational "Salaam -- Peace -Hamba Kahle," one indeed feels as though having been on a whirlwind tour of a small portion of Africa. The recording quality leaves a little to be desired, but the wonderful music more than makes up for it. Highly recommended, especially for those who came to Ibrahim's music later in his career and who are unfamiliar with his early, arguably more substantial work.
© Brian Olewnick /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From CA$ 10.83/month
Dollar Brand / Abdullah Ibrahim, Performer - Abdullah Ibrahim, Composer
1983 Enja Records Horst Weber GmbH 1983 Enja Records Horst Weber GmbH
Dollar Brand / Abdullah Ibrahim, Performer - Abdullah Ibrahim, Composer
1983 Enja Records Horst Weber GmbH 1983 Enja Records Horst Weber GmbH
Dollar Brand / Abdullah Ibrahim, Performer - Abdullah Ibrahim, Composer
1983 Enja Records Horst Weber GmbH 1983 Enja Records Horst Weber GmbH
Dollar Brand / Abdullah Ibrahim, Performer - Abdullah Ibrahim, Composer
1983 Enja Records Horst Weber GmbH 1983 Enja Records Horst Weber GmbH
Dollar Brand / Abdullah Ibrahim, Performer - Abdullah Ibrahim, Composer
1983 Enja Records Horst Weber GmbH 1983 Enja Records Horst Weber GmbH
Dollar Brand / Abdullah Ibrahim, Performer - Abdullah Ibrahim, Composer
1983 Enja Records Horst Weber GmbH 1983 Enja Records Horst Weber GmbH
Dollar Brand / Abdullah Ibrahim, Performer - Abdullah Ibrahim, Composer
1983 Enja Records Horst Weber GmbH 1983 Enja Records Horst Weber GmbH
Dollar Brand / Abdullah Ibrahim, Performer - Abdullah Ibrahim, Composer
1983 Enja Records Horst Weber GmbH 1983 Enja Records Horst Weber GmbH
Dollar Brand / Abdullah Ibrahim, Performer - Abdullah Ibrahim, Composer
1983 Enja Records Horst Weber GmbH 1983 Enja Records Horst Weber GmbH
Dollar Brand / Abdullah Ibrahim, Performer - Abdullah Ibrahim, Composer
1983 Enja Records Horst Weber GmbH 1983 Enja Records Horst Weber GmbH
Dollar Brand / Abdullah Ibrahim, Performer - Abdullah Ibrahim, Composer
1983 Enja Records Horst Weber GmbH 1983 Enja Records Horst Weber GmbH
Dollar Brand / Abdullah Ibrahim, Performer - Abdullah Ibrahim, Composer
1983 Enja Records Horst Weber GmbH 1983 Enja Records Horst Weber GmbH
Dollar Brand / Abdullah Ibrahim, Performer - Abdullah Ibrahim, Composer
1983 Enja Records Horst Weber GmbH 1983 Enja Records Horst Weber GmbH
Dollar Brand / Abdullah Ibrahim, Performer - Abdullah Ibrahim, Composer
1983 Enja Records Horst Weber GmbH 1983 Enja Records Horst Weber GmbH
Album review
African Sketchbook is a superb example of the kind of solo concerts Abdullah Ibrahim (then known as Dollar Brand) performed early in his career. They were lengthy, non-stop affairs with pieces strung together end on end, sometimes repeated, sometimes with interpolations from Monk or Ellington, and always supremely creative and moving. He would often introduce the evenings with a composition for flute, as is the case here with the gorgeous "Air." After that, it's wave upon wave of songs. Some are rhythmically propulsive numbers with Ibrahim vamping for all he's worth with the left hand while deftly evoking aspects of South Africa with the right. The songs tend to have a basis that may strike Western listeners as gospel-related while, in fact, it's gospel that shows these same African roots. Other pieces have tinges of 20th century European classical music and some, like "Sadness," are simply and astoundingly beautiful. When the album ends with a repetition of the invocational "Salaam -- Peace -Hamba Kahle," one indeed feels as though having been on a whirlwind tour of a small portion of Africa. The recording quality leaves a little to be desired, but the wonderful music more than makes up for it. Highly recommended, especially for those who came to Ibrahim's music later in his career and who are unfamiliar with his early, arguably more substantial work.
© Brian Olewnick /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 14 track(s)
- Total length: 00:45:58
- Main artists: Abdullah Ibrahim
- Composer: Abdullah Ibrahim
- Label: Enja Horst Weber
- Genre: World
1983 Enja Records Horst Weber GmbH 1983 Enja Records Horst Weber GmbH
Why buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.