Abdullah Ibrahim returns with new music and UK show

The South African jazz legend will play one solo show in London

Author: Chris GilvearPublished 20th May 2019

The distinguished South African pianist Abdullah Ibrahim is back with new material and a rare UK solo concert. The new album (his first in four years) is titled ‘The Balance’, recorded in London last year and released on Gearbox Records at the end of June. The 84-year-old released the single ‘Dreamtime’ this week, featuring his long-time septet Ekaya (Noah Jackson: double bass and cello, Alec Dankworth: double bass, Will Terrill: drums, Adam Glasser: harmonica, Cleave Guyton Jr: alto saxophone, flute and piccolo, Lance Bryant: tenor saxophone, Andrae Murchison: trombone and Marshall McDonald: baritone saxophone).

Ibrahim says of the release: "We push ourselves out of our comfort zones. So that we can present to the listener our striving for excellence. So that we can engage with our listeners without any barriers of our ego. It's not jazz. For us, it's a process of transcending barriers." 

He is playing a rare solo concert at London’s IndigO2 (Greenwich) on Tuesday 10th September.