Pre-Show Talk With Nou Dadoun

The Lion in Winter: How Abdullah Ibrahim brought South African Jazz to the World

For many people, Abdullah Ibrahim embodies South African jazz. Mixing the songs of his Capetown childhood, the church music of his family and the popular music of the township with the influences of Duke Ellington and Thelonious Monk, he produces a joyous sound which has remained distinctive throughout his career of over 70 years. Along the way, he played with The Jazz Epistles recording one of the first jazz albums in Africa, was discovered by Duke Ellington, wrote one of the anti-apartheid anthems in the struggle for a free South Africa, played for Nelson Mandela’s inauguration, and brought his music to every corner of the globe.

In this pre-concert talk, we’ll explore his background, his influences both musical and spiritual, and prepare for the magic of a recital by the only African musician to be named an NEA Jazz Master: the inimitable Abdullah Ibrahim.