1	Mindif 	6:59	
2	Ishmael		3:08	
3	Tsakwe		1:33	 
4	Call	6:02	 
5	Damara Blue 	2:07
6	Wedding	4:21
7	Blanton (Orchestra Only)			
8	Aspen (Piano Solo)	1:13
9	Barakaat	5:20
10	Tintinyana	6:29
11	Mountain of the Night	3:33	

Abdullah Ibrahim (piano)
Belden Bullock (bass)
George Gray (drums)
Youth Orchestra of the European Community

African Suite presents Abdullah Ibrahim's regular trio with bassist Belden Bullock and drummer George Gray along with a large string section drawn from the Youth Orchestra of the European Community. Daniel Schnyder crafted the arrangements, which are orchestral reworkings of some of Ibrahim's compositions roughly spanning a 25-year period. The strings serve to heighten the evocative globalism of Ibrahim's work, in which the pianist's South African origin, Islamic faith, longtime European residence, and jazz immersion are incorporated with a dazzling imaginative breadth.

Here perhaps more than ever before, Ibrahim's piano is a subtle tool, coaxing the spare, singable melodies into being and generally hovering over the proceedings like a wise, almost detached presence. Both the pianist and the orchestra get a chance to shine alone, Ibrahim on "Aspen" and the orchestra on "Blanton." The latter, dedicated to the late Ellington bassist Jimmy Blanton, sounds uncannily like a jazz bassist bowing an arco solo.

The rhythm section gets a bit busier on the slow-grooving "Ishmael," the rollicking "Tsakwe," the 6/4 sketch "Damara Blue," and the brooding funk piece "Tintinyana." For sheer eclecticism and catchiness, nothing beats the "All Blues"-style "Barakaat" and the African-soul-jazz finale "The Mountain of the Night." But the strings are integrated more effectively on the calmer numbers, especially "The Call" and an absolutely breathtaking arrangement of "The Wedding." One only wishes something could have been done about the audible hiss on parts of the recording. --- David R. Adler, Rovi

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01. Excursions
02. Eleventh Hour
03. Kofifi Blue
04. Chisa
05. Song For Aggrey
06. The Stride
07. The Call
08. African Marketplace
09. Joan — Cape Town Flower
10. Maraba Blue
11. Monk In Harlem

Abdullah Ibrahim (aka Dollar Brand) (Piano)
Marcus McLaurine (Double Bass)
George Gray (Drums)

Cape Town Flowers is an enchanting effort from Abdullah Ibrahim, finding the pianist in a trio setting performing 11 original compositions. With the exception of the nine-minute title track and "Monk In Harlem," most of the album's songs clock in at under five minutes, many under four. Each of the pieces is understated, lovely, and nearly dreamlike. The length of the tracks may make Cape Town Flowers seem like a slight record, but the truth is, that very brevity and the way the songs form a sonic tapestry is exactly what makes the record a modest gem. --- Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi

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01. Untitled
02. The Perfumed Forest With Wet Rain
03. Drums
04. Angelica
05. Homecoming Song
06. The Wedding
07. Takira
08. African Marketplace
09. Untitled
10. Untitled
11. Banyana - The Children Of Africa
12. Untitled
13. Whoza Mtwana

Abdullah Ibrahim - piano
Carlos Ward - saxophone, flute
Rachiim Sahu Ausur - bass
Andrey Strobert - drums

June 26, 1981
Piazza Della Riforma, Lugano, Switzerland 

Abdullah Ibrahim, from Jazz Lugano in 1981. One of the primary figures in the South African Jazz scene since the early 1960s, Ibrahim, who was then known as Dollar Brand, used his many musical influences from growing up and living in the port city of Cape Town, to shape a sub-genre of Jazz known as Cape Jazz. But also to bring his distinct African sound to the rest of the world. First starting in 1959 as part of the South African group The Jazz Epistles, which also included fellow South African Hugh Masekela. They were also the first Black African group to record an lp in 1960.

But South Africa, as it was during that period of apartheid, was heavily suppressive, and it forced The Jazz Epistles to break up and Ibrahim, as well as Hugh Masekela along with many others, to migrate north to Europe if they were going to get anywhere with their music and their identity. In 1962, Ibrahim settled in Zurich with his wife and it was there that he met Duke Ellington, while the Ellington band were on a European tour. Ellington was impressed and immediately set up a session with Reprise Records. The result was the album Duke Ellington Presents The Dollar Brand Trio and a long-lasting relationship based on mutual musical admiration. Ellington became actively engaged in bringing American jazz to Africa and Ibrahim was actively engaged in bringing African influences to American Jazz.

Since the end of Apartheid, Ibrahim has divided his time between his home in New York and his other home in Capetown. This performance from the Lugano Jazz Festival, which features his Quartet; Carlos Ward on sax and flute, Rachiim Ausur on Bass, and Andrey Strobert on drums is one of the regular festivals he has been very much a part of. ---pastdaily.com

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1.  Thaba Bosigo (Mountain of the night) 4:21
2.  Siya Hamba Namhlanje (We are leaving today) 3:28
3.  Iza-Ne Zembe Gawuale (Bring the Axe) 4:10
4.  Black and brown Cherries 7:59
5.  Our loving family 6:13
6.  African Dawn - For Monk 7:59
7.  Zimbabwe 4:22
8.  Elsie's River 6:03
9.  Pancakes 0:45
10.  Capetown Carnival 4:03
11.  Thaba Bosigo 2:42

Abdullah Ibrahim (Dollar Brand) (Piano, Soprano Saxophone and Vocals)
Johnny Classens (Vocals)
Carlos Ward (Flute and Alto Saxophone)
Essiet Okun Essiet (Double Bass)
Don Mumford (Drums)

Abdullah Ibrahim's spiritual and very melodic South African folk music is always worth hearing and his individuality remains quite impressive. This set, recorded live at the Montreux Jazz Festival, features the pianist (who also plays a bit of soprano and adds his emotional voice to the proceedings) with his longtime altoist Carlos Ward, bassist Essiet Okun Essiet, drummer Don Mumford and vocalist Johnny Classens. The music, dealing with themes related to South African life, is quite personal, unique and surprisingly accessible. ---Scott Yanow, Rovi

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