The African Suite [Enja]

• Artist: Abdullah Ibrahim
• Rating:
• Release Date: July 20, 1999
• Total Time: 49:33
• Genre: Jazz

Review

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, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Mindif	Abdullah Ibrahim	Abdullah Ibrahim	(6:39)
Ishmael	Abdullah Ibrahim	Abdullah Ibrahim	(2:34)
Tsakwe	Abdullah Ibrahim	Abdullah Ibrahim	(5:36)
The Call	Abdullah Ibrahim	Abdullah Ibrahim	(6:43)
Damara Blue	Abdullah Ibrahim	Abdullah Ibrahim	(2:21)
The Wedding	Abdullah Ibrahim	Abdullah Ibrahim	(4:53)
Blanton (Orchestra Only) [Instrumental]	Abdullah Ibrahim	Abdullah Ibrahim	(1:53)
Aspen (Piano Solo)	Abdullah Ibrahim	Abdullah Ibrahim	(4:31)
Barakaat	Abdullah Ibrahim	Abdullah Ibrahim	(4:54)
Tintinyana	Abdullah Ibrahim	Abdullah Ibrahim	(5:54)
The Mountain of the Night	Abdullah Ibrahim	Abdullah Ibrahim	(4:07)

Credits

Estelle Villotte (Viola), Charice Adriaansen (Double Bass), Lucy Waterhouse (Group Member), Wilhelm Zürrer (Engineer), Youth Orchestra of the European Community (Orchestra), Daniel Schnyder (Musical Director), Matthias Winckelmann (Concept), Abdullah Ibrahim (Piano), Enrico Alvares (Violin), Michelle Bruil (Group Member), Dahlia Adamopoulos (Viola), Alan Brind (Violin), Natalie Caron (Cello), Belden Bullock (Bass), Daniel Schnyder (Arranger), Simone Bertz (Violin), Lucy Waterhouse (Violin), Dahlia Adamopoulos (Group Member), Enrico Alvares (Group Member), Charice Adriaansen (Group Member), George Gray (Drums), Estelle Villotte (Group Member), Abdullah Ibrahim (Group Member), Youth Orchestra of the European Community (Strings), George Gray (Group Member), Michelle Bruil (Viola), Belden Bullock (Group Member), Daniel Schnyder (Producer), Ilona de Groot (Group Member), Natalie Caron (Group Member), Alan Brind (Group Member), Matthias Winckelmann (Artwork), Daniel Schnyder (Liner Notes), Ilona de Groot (Violin), W. Patrick Hinely (Photography), Simone Bertz (Group Member)