Legendary South African jazz pianist Abdullah Ibrahim has shared a track ‘Jabula’ from his forthcoming album ‘The Balance’, out via Gearbox Records on June 28th.
At the grand old age of 84, and able to look back over a lifetime in jazz which has included playing with everyone from Duke Ellington to Max Roach, John Coltrane to Ornette Coleman, and being described by Nelson Mandela as being ‘our Mozart’, Abdullah Ibrahim is readying himself for the release of his first new album in four years.
Jabula (or Rejoice) is a big band gospel jazz stomper, with this sort of extended township jazz melody on the horns pulling it away from its American roots and placing it firmly in Africa. Underneath is Ibrahim’s understated piano and this brilliant, bubbling drum work. Its a little ray of African/Basie sunshine in your life right now.
Check it out, here
