A great pianist with South African roots will perform solo on the Main Hall stage, crowning this year’s Jazztopad. Abdullah Ibrahim’s concert at the NFM will take place just a few weeks after the artist’s ninetieth birthday. When asked during one of the radio broadcasts: “How do you do it?”, he jokingly replied: “I have nothing else to do!”

If anyone would like to delve into Ibrahim’s discography before the concert, they should also search for the pianist’s albums under the name “Dollar Brand”. This was the artist’s name for the first decades of his life – until he converted to Islam in 1968, adopting the name and surname by which he is known today. He was raised in Cape Town, which in his youth was a city full of music and influences of various cultures. Over the years, he came into contact with American jazz, the local jaiva, music of South African Muslims, as well as classical and other styles. These inspirations soon translated into his own work: in the 1950s, Ibrahim founded a trio. His most famous group of that time, however, was The Jazz Epistles, co-founded by saxophonist Kippie Moeketsi and trumpeter Hugh Masekela. Their 1960 Verse One was the first jazz album recorded by South African musicians.

“His very personal style flowed from African, European and American sources, and the result was an exceptionally harmonious combination – even when he was guided by political and passionate intentions,”  wrote Richard Cook about Ibrahim’s piano playing in the Jazz Encyclopedia. In Wrocław, we will hear Ibrahim solo. In this form, the artist regularly performs and records: the last album of this type is the Solotude from two years ago. A dozen or so contemplative melodies flow into each other, emanating warmth and peace. May Abdullah Ibrahim continue to direct them to us for as long as possible – in good health and with a consistently cheerful disposition!

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