African Portraits

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African Portraits
Studio album by
Recorded18 February 1973
VenueToronto
GenreJazz
LabelSackville

African Portraits is a solo piano album by Abdullah Ibrahim. It was recorded in 1973 and released by Sackville Records. Parts of the original release were later issued on compilation albums.

Recording and music[edit]

The album was recorded in Toronto on 18 February 1973.[1] Material from the recording session was released on this album and on Sangoma.[2]

Releases and reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz[2]

African Portraits was released by Sackville Records.[2] The AllMusic reviewer concluded that, "There are many recordings available by the unique pianist, and this set is an above-average and consistently stirring effort."[3] The Penguin Guide to Jazz observed that the recording was "in dramatic close-up".[2]

Material from African Portraits and Sangoma was later compiled in the album Ancient Africa, which was released by Sackville in 1994.[4] A 2017 CD reissue of this compilation added a previously unreleased track featuring Ibrahim on flute as well as reciting words.[4] It was issued by Delmark Records, which had earlier acquired the Sackville catalogue.[4]

Track listing[edit]

  1. "Cherry/Bra Joe from Kilimanjaro" – 21:18
  2. "Blues for Hughie/Kippie/Gafsa – Life Is for the Living, Death Is for All of Us/Gwangwa/Little Boy/Easter Joy/Jabulani/Xaba – 24:10

Personnel[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Robson, Britt (24 October 2017). "Abdullah Ibrahim: Ancient Africa (Sackville/Delmark)". JazzTimes. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (1992). The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD, LP & Cassette (1st ed.). Penguin. p. 556. ISBN 978-0-14-015364-4.
  3. ^ a b Yanow, Scott. "Abdullah Ibrahim – African Portraits". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  4. ^ a b c Attarian, Hrayr (2 June 2017). "Two Sackville Gems: Abdullah Ibraihim's 'Ancient Africa' and Oliver Lake and Joseph Bowie's 'Live at A Space 1976'". All About Jazz. Retrieved 3 January 2018.