Abdullah Ibrahim - Dollar Brand Plays Sphere Jazz (1960) 2015, Phono [FLAC|Lossless|tracks + .cue] <Post-Bop, African Jazz>

Adolph Johannes Brand was born in Cape Town, South Africa in 1934. He adopted the stage name Dollar Brand for his first few recordings, before changing his name to Abdullah Ibrahim on his conversion to Islam in 1968. The recording dates of both these sets are from that brief period between the burst of South African jazz and when Ibrahim and fellow musicians fled apartheid in 1962.
This reissue is his first set as leader, in a trio setting, recorded a couple of weeks after the classic recording of the Jazz Epistles Verse 1 (which this CD includes, in full, as ‘bonus tracks’). Originally released on Gallo Continental (ZB8047) in 1962, there was a vinyl reissue in the late 1970s (on the Sun label). You might also be familiar with some of the tracks on this set as the release ‘Blues for a Hip King’ on Sony in the late 1980s. The remastering of both recordings is to a high standard, perhaps better on the first than The Jazz Epistles (originally issued as Gallo Continental CON T-14).
The primary CD reflects, in its title at least, Ibrahim’s love of Monk (‘Sphere’ was Monk’s middle name). With the exception of Monk’s ‘Misterioso’ the compositions reflect the breadth of talent in South African jazz at the time. It is not so easy now to see similarity between Monk and Ibrahim – yes, there is some reflection in phrasing, particularly on the opener ‘Boulevard East’ and in the version of ‘Just you, just me’ (with its heavy quoting from Bemsha Swing), and yes, there is something about the heaviness of the left hand, but Ibrahim plays a more exuberant style and, to my ear, has a right hand that is slightly in advance on his left which lends a syncopation to the playing that contrasts with the studied disjointedness of Monk. The melodic lines owe more to Ibrahim’s other hero, Duke Ellington, and the trio recording here has something of Ellington’s trio sets. The interplay between Gertze and Ntshoko provides a solid support to the piano, with a strong emphasis on bebop rhythms. There is a lovely quote from Ellington to Ibrahim when they met, “You’re blessed because you come from the source” (reflecting Ellington’s fascination with African rhythms and music).
If the ‘Plays Sphere Jazz’ has a sense of exploring the world of contemporary bebop, the Jazz Epistles CD, with the additional players, has a feeling of looking back. The playing recreates some of the big band playing of the 1950s, albeit in a sextet. In this setting, Ibrahim’s piano playing carries much more of the Ellington lightness and commitment to melody (I was continually reminded of Ellington’s solo piano playing). However, what you also get from these recordings is the way in which South African music was forging its own sense of jazz and the individual style that Ibrahim was developing before he moved to Europe. The playing of all the musicians on both of these sets, shows them in full mastery of their instruments and ready to take the jazz world by storm. (Chris Baber)

1-7: Dollar Brand Trio - Dollar Brand Plays Sphere Jazz:

Abdullah Ibrahim (aka Dollar Brand) - piano
Johnny Gertze - bass
Makaya Ntshoko - drums

Recorded in Johannesburg, South Africa on February 4, 1960.

8-15: The Jazz Epistles - Jazz Epistle - Verse 1:

Abdullah Ibrahim (aka Dollar Brand) - piano
Johnny Gertze - bass
Makaya Ntshoko - drums
Hugh Masekela - trumpet
Jonas Gwangwa - trombone
Kippie Moeketsi - alto saxophone

Recorded in Johannesburg, South Africa on January 22, 1960.