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| Jazz legend debuts tour in sunny city While Durban music fans are always peeved about some of the bigger acts in the industry skipping their town while on tour, they'll be pleased to know a South African-born jazz legend has chosen to kick off his latest tour in the sunny city. Abdullah Ibrahim and Ekaya will launch their 2011 South African tour at the Chief Nkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre next month. Speaking on behalf of Ibrahim, who is on tour in Europe, Marysa Leukes, spokeswoman for the Cape Town Jazz Orchestra, said Ibrahim had a special reason for starting his tour in Durban. "Abdullah has always felt Durban has a lot to offer musically and culturally, but also feels that it is not frequented enough by big music acts." And it is not just Durban that's got Ibrahim's priority attention for the tour; Leukes said he and Ekaya would also take the tour to Kimberly and Polokwane. "He always gets a lot of support from these areas and he has decided to take the music to them, " she said. The concert coincides with the release of Ibrahim's new album, Sotho Blue, which features his band Ekaya (meaning homeland or hometown). The band, who are all New Yorkers, includes Cleave Guyton (alto sax, flute), Keith Loftis (tenor sax), Jason Marshall (baritone sax), Andrae Murchinson (trombone), drummer George Gray and bassist Belden Bullock. In a press release, Ibrahim described the album as one that is "more economical and minimalist" compared to its predecessors: "The fight is finished; now it is a question of preserving memories and making something new out of them… The exuberant poetry of the songs has remained, but they have been set in a new historical context, " he said. Leukes said the audience could expect some new hits and old favourites. l write your comments about the article :: © 2011 Jazz News :: home page |