Dollar Brand

This is an interesting early Abdullah Ibrahim CD, recorded when the pianist-composer was still known as Dollar Brand. Teamed with bassist Johnny Gertze and drummer Makaya Ntshoko on six of the eight numbers (two are piano solos), Ibrahim sounds quite advanced, showing off the influence of Thelonious Monk and perhaps Herbie Nichols but not much of his own South African heritage; that would come later. Ibrahim performs six of his originals plus two Monk tunes ("'Round Midnight" and "Light Blue") with originality and a certain amount of unpredictability. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide