Abdullah Ibrahim – "District Six" (Weekly Music Roundup)

Abdullah Ibrahim – "District Six" (Weekly Music Roundup)

South African pianist Abdullah Ibrahim began his career performing under the name Dollar Brand, and he had an unexpected radio hit in the early 70s here in the States with the song “Cape Town Fringe.” Duke Ellington was a big fan, and Nelson Mandela referred to Ibrahim as “our Mozart.” Now, the 87-year old pianist has put out a solo record, called Solotude, an almost meditative recording where he moves freely between some of his earlier works. This is “District Six,” named for the area of Cape Town where thousands were displaced by the apartheid regime.  

Abdullah Ibrahim's new album Solotude is part of our Weekly Music Roundup.