Dollar Brand

condition (record/cover): NM / NM

Insert included. No obi.

Copenhagen, Jazzhus Montmartre, 1969: Dollar Brand - the future Abdullah Ibrahim - alone at the piano, rolling out the hypnotic township grooves, church harmonies and trance repetitions that made him one of the most instantly recognizable pianists alive. African Piano is the manifesto: left hand as drum choir, right hand as congregation, Ellington and Cape Town in permanent embrace, the vamps circling until they stop being repetition and become ritual. Recorded live with the club's atmosphere intact, which suits music that was always closer to ceremony than recital.

Originally on Japo, the ECM sister label, here in a Japanese Trio pressing of characteristic quality. One of the great solo piano records of its era and the perfect entry into a vast and beautiful discography that would stretch across another half century. Once this groove gets into your bloodstream, it does not leave - consider yourself warned, and lucky.