I was inspired to write about Abdullah Ibrahim (formerly Dollar Brand) for two reasons. One, the 90 year old South African pianist and composer is performing in New Haven tonight and I’m excited and moved that I will get to soak in his inimitable vibes. Two, his role as a voice against the oppression of…
Continue ReadingAlto saxophonist Lou Donaldson, who has moved on at the ripe age of 98, is perhaps the foremost example of how intertwined bebop and the blues are. Once a major heir to the Charlie Parker throne, he made a striking number of successful records in the funky acoustic “boogaloo” vein. Yet a focused listen reveals…
Continue ReadingSome artists are so iconic that we refer to them by one name (Ella, Stevie, Joni, Aretha, Clifford) but Quincy Jones only needed one letter. Q was a singular artist in his masterful eclecticism and prolific output. I was maybe in my early 20s when I fully realized that the person arranging some of my…
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