Dollar Brand/Abdullah Ibrahim Orchestra: African Space Program
Author: Brian Priestley
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Musicians: |
Cecil Bridgewater (t) |
Label: |
Enja |
Magazine Review Date: |
February/2014 |
Catalogue Number: |
9211 |
RecordDate: |
7 November 1973 |
Released in a series of Enja Jazz Classics, this is one of only two big-band albums directed by the then Dollar Brand. It was done in New York – if I recall correctly, at a radio studio – which might just explain the rough recording, rife with distortion that seems emphasised by the digital remastering. With Ibrahim's piano taking a back seat, the written material on each of the two long pieces, ‘Jabulani – Easter Joy’ and his early anthem ‘Tintiyana’, accurately translates his hymnlike harmonies into occasionally tentative ensembles. But the meat of the performance is the post-free blowing by a heavy NYC team, some of their solos being mentioned in the Downbeat review reprinted here but nowhere listed chronologically – unlike the trumpets, the reeds are mostly identifiable but Enja don't tell us about Alexander's harmonica or Brooks' musical saw. The combination of solos and excitable band performance sometimes recalls the Brotherhood of Breath and should be heard again, preferably after the tapes have been cleaned up.
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