''Senzo'' is a 2008 solo piano album by
Abdullah Ibrahim.
Recording and music
All of the compositions are by Ibrahim, except for "
In a Sentimental Mood
"In a Sentimental Mood" is a jazz composition by Duke Ellington. He composed the piece in 1935 and recorded it with his orchestra during the same year. Lyrics were written by Manny Kurtz; Ellington's manager Irving Mills gave himself a percent ...
".
"Ibrahim moves from the discordant, free-sounding improvisation of 'Ocean and the River', and the joyous, township-jive sounds of 'Tookah' and 'Banjana, Children of Africa', to the soulful and meditative 'Blues for a Hip King'".
The last of these is a tribute to
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and leader of his eponymous jazz orchestra from 1923 through the rest of his life. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Ellington was based ...
;
"For Coltrane" is a
John Coltrane tribute.
"The melody near the beginning of 'Dust (Reprise)' evokes
Maynard Ferguson
Walter Maynard Ferguson CM (May 4, 1928 – August 23, 2006) was a Canadian jazz trumpeter and bandleader. He came to prominence in Stan Kenton's orchestra before forming his own big band in 1957. He was noted for his bands, which often served ...
's 'Coconut Champagne' – its descending and syncopated riff
..But then as the left-hand transitions to a cyclical and gently syncopated pattern over which his right-hand played bursts of notes it settles into a typical South African Marabi sound with overtones of bop".
Release and reception
The title of the album means "ancestor" in Japanese and Chinese, and is the name of Ibrahim's father.
''Senzo'' was released by
Sunnyside Records on 27 October 2008 in the UK and on 3 March 2009 in the US.
The
AllMusic reviewer commented that, "There's an ebb and flow to the program that makes you want to listen all the way through, but certain familiar signposts along the way remind you how distinctive and singularly unique Ibrahim's style is."
The ''
DownBeat
' (styled in all caps) is an American music magazine devoted to "jazz, blues and beyond", the last word indicating its expansion beyond the jazz realm which it covered exclusively in previous years. The publication was established in 1934 in Chi ...
'' reviewer wrote of the "at once introspective and expansive feel of this breathtaking CD."
Track listing
This listing is from the Sunnyside website.
Other sources give a different track order, perhaps from a different release.
#"Dust" – 1:05
#"Corridors Radiant" – 1:18
#"Jabulani" – 1:05
#"Dust (Reprise)" – 5:13
#"Nisa" – 6:15
#"'Senzo' – Contours And Time" – 2:29
#"Meditation/Mummy" – 2:17
#"Banyana, Children of Africa" – 0:52
#"Mamma" – 1:05
#"Blue Bolero" – 6:07
#"
In a Sentimental Mood
"In a Sentimental Mood" is a jazz composition by Duke Ellington. He composed the piece in 1935 and recorded it with his orchestra during the same year. Lyrics were written by Manny Kurtz; Ellington's manager Irving Mills gave himself a percent ...
" – 3:01
#"Ocean & The River" – 1:23
#"Ocean & The River" – 2:45
#"In the Evening" – 3:06
#"Blues for Bea" – 0:53
#"Prelude 'For Coltrane'" – 0:55
#"Aspen" – 1:13
#"Blues for a Hip King" – 6:03
#"Third Line Samba" – 2:10
#"Tookah" – 1:26
#"Pula" – 1:32
#"For Coltrane" – 5:07
Personnel
*
Abdullah Ibrahim – piano
References
{{Authority control
2008 albums
Abdullah Ibrahim albums
Solo piano jazz albums