Balance, The

Reviewed: 2020—02-29
Genre: Jazz
FCCs: none
Review: At 84, pianist Ibrahim, formerly known as Dollar Brand, continues to find new ways to stretch himself. This time out, he performs with a versatile elastic band with shifting instrumentation.
If You Like: Ralph Towner, Keith Jarrett
Track Review (favorites denoted by *):
*1/ Dreamtime (4:06) – piano starts> slow tempo jam> slow fade
***2/ Nisa (6:37) – piano starts> slow temp jam builds to uptempo> fade
*3/ Jabula (3:43) – drums start> fast tempo celebratory jam with horns> slow fade
**4/ Tuang Guru (5:11) – bass starts> fast tempo jam with flute & saxes> pause> midtempo jam> fade
5/ Tonegawa (3:33) – slow meditative piano solo
6/ Song For Sathima (4:11) – piano starts> slow tempo jam with sax> fade
*7/ ZB2 (2:04) – piano solo starts slow, builds to midtempo> quick stop
**8/ Skippy (5:35) – full band starts> bouncy uptempo jam with flute> quick stop
9/ Devotion (2:58) – slow piano solo> quick stop
*10/ The Balance (3:04) – piano starts> slow tempo jam with cello, flute, & harmonica> slow fade