22.09.2017
Text: Cem Kayıran
Illustration: Saydan Akşit
One of the most special concerts of Akbank Jazz Festival’s at this year’s programme is the Abdullah Ibrahim and Ekaya the UNIQ Hall on 8th November. An icon of music and peace who has left his mark on jazz history, Abdullah Ibrahim is going to share stage and make music with his band after all the musicians has gone through exciting journeys of music.
Jazz Epistles was formed in 1959 with Abdullah Ibrahim (then known as Dollar Brand),Kippy Moeketsi, Ntshoko and Johnny Gertze as the members. The band shortly became one of the biggest projects of South Africa music scene. Their Jazz Epistle, Verse 1 album was the first album recorded by black musicians from South Africa. Inspired by Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, the band gave performances in Johannesburg and Cape Town to crowds with record-breaking attendance on the same year of their formation. The event that put an end to Jazz Epistles rapid rise was the 1960 Sharpeville massacre. After the deaths of 69 protesters, South Africa government banned any groups larger than nine people to get together in public and the band’s members migrated to different countries to pursue their music careers.
After the Sharpville massacre, Abdullah Ibrahim moved to Europe. Duke Ellington, who was living in Zurich at the time, took an interest in him and with Ellington’s support, Ibrahim went on to become one of the important names of the modern jazz scene. He released many albums with The Dollar Brand Trio in the 60’s and was a part of various recordings and performances with legendary names such as Cecil Taylor and Pharoah Sanders. In his own music, Ibrahim included African elements and messages of peace. His song, “Mannenberg” received worldwide praise. He formed another band in the 80’s named Ekaya and released four albums between 1983-2010. Last year he included Hugh Masekela in the as the band’s trumpeter and they have been performing at many prestigious festivals since.