Water From An Ancient Well

On one of my first visit to Cape Town I was having a drink with  a black man who was a local. He pointed at a person with brown skin across the room and, said ¨the coloured guy over there is a good friend.¨ He was incredulous when I told him that in my country the term ¨coloured¨ was a derogatory term for a black man. He informed me that  under the Apartheid regime,  people were segregated into Blacks, Whites (mainly Afrikaans) and Coloureds (which were everyone else). Those terms are still used to describe people but are not considered racist and the severe ramifications of being in one group or the other are no longer proscribed by the government. Abdullah Ibrahim would have been a coloured person.  The Wiki notes for this one are quite limited. As one can tell from the names of some of the songs, there is a political side to this. The song Mandela is an obvious one given he was sitting in Robben Island at the time this was released. Mannenberg Revisited  was a well known and highly political song. I read that a copy of the record was snuck onto Robben Island and when Nelson Mandela heard it he remarked that ¨liberation is near¨.  Mannenberg is about the forced removal of those defined as coloured people from a downtown neighbourhood to the suburbs of Cape Town. What boggles the mind is that these songs effectively conveyed the message of protest and uprising  without lyrics.  Song for Sathima is about his wife Sathima Bea Benjamin  If you're interested, Spotify has a wonderful EP called African Songbird with three  of her tunes including Africa which is an avant garde jazz sung with love for her  Africa.

Gorgeous, sensitive, buttery smooth jazz. Wonderful. Like sinking into a warm, comfy mattress.

Awfully good and easy-swinging. Highly polished in composition and tone and execution. There’s real elegance in the straightforwardness and simplicity of the playing and a richness and warmth from the large format. Just strong all the way around. Solid 4.

Is this good jazz? Is this bad jazz? All I feel qualified to say is that this is definitely jazz.

The score to a looney tunes cartoon when nothing is happening.

The music that plays when you get kicked out of a cantina.

Simply delightful! The music just ebbs and flows like a river. Saved to my playlist

Great album - caught me by surprise. Has a timeless quality, many of the tracks harken back to roots in the 50s or 60s. Definitely a keeper!

Although it was a little behind the times for the year this was released, it's an excellent assortment of original cool-jazz compositions. Ibrahim's piano is surprisingly sparse on here, but he sounds like a composed and stern father, who speaks up only when needed, and only as much as needed, to keep his somewhat wild, ambitious (and incredibly talented) children (the other musicians) in line. Speaking of the other musicians, dig the crazy bass on Manenberg Revisited, the unusual drum rhythms on Tuang Guru, the silky smooth saxophones on the title track and Song for Sathima, the wistful trombone on Sameeda, the self-assured flute on The Mountain. Only 2 slight critiques, the recording isn't as crisp as I'd like, and sounds more 50's than 80's, and the way all the songs finish with the same flourish is anticlimatic. OverallI, I'm really glad to have heard this and will be listening to more Abdullah Ibrahim in the future.

The cover of this record lead me to believe it was going to be a little more ambient or ethereal than it was, but that’s not a bad thing. This is an interesting, more traditional jazz record which was a nice surprise.

In one ear and out the other.

Ik word zenuwachtig van muziek met een bassist die steeds 'onderweg is'. Loopt over de hele hals van zijn bas, als een hondje die maar niet kan beslissen waar ie gaat poepen.

Having just listened to Time out by the Dave Brubeck quartet i felt that the 30 years that separated the two albums hadn’t been kind to Jazz. It didn’t flow well for me, the transition from one track to another was too harsh at times. The tracks I enjoyed Mandela - quite punchy and upbeat, it’s gets the album off to a good start. Manenberg revisited- starts slow and builds up, whilst it’s quite repetitive it allows you to follow the beat and relax into it. Tuang guru - reminded me of the backing music to a 1950’s black and white cop film The ones I didn’t Sameeda- too “all over the place” with its beat, just couldn’t relax with it. There’s a couple of tracks I would listen to again, but not the whole album

Wasn’t really in the mood for it but solid

7/5 awesome album..had been listening to Charlie Parker and John Coltrane, then this came along …wonderful…even found Ricky Ford my new favorite saxophonist….saxophone has always gotten into my soul deeply…

I love Abdullah Ibrahim.

Nice smooth swinging jazz. My type to listen too.

Some lovely Jazz! Going into my library.

I did not know what to expect from this album. I’m a huge jazz fan but Ibrahim is not someone whose music I’m familiar with. He’s a pianist, but this is very much an ensemble effort. And it covers so much ground. It opens with Mandela, which really swings, and it never sits still. There are steamy, edgy tunes that reek if New York (Song For Sathima, Tuang Gura). Long, slow pieces (the title track & The Mountain). The Wedding is a beautiful tune in march time. I thought Mannenberg Revisited sounded very 60’s. Turns out it is a re-interpretation of a song he originally recorded in the early 70’s. A song which is often remembered as an unofficial national anthem. And the album ends a bit like it started, with the band really stretching out, on Sameeda. A terrific record.

Water From an Ancient Well I resisted looking up anything about this before I listened, from the artist’s name, album title and cover I thought it might have been a Middle-Eastern/North African album. But of course it’s Jazz, with, when you think about it, one of the most Jazz Club album titles you could imagine, a kind of pretentious earthiness. I’m still not sure if I can distinguish good jazz from bad jazz, although I’m finding it less of a struggle to listen to than I did before doing the list. And the music on here seems to be a curious mix of not so great cruise ship banality and some genuinely good tracks like Song for Sathima, Manenburg Revisited and The Mountain. Song for Sathima has a lovely melody, excellent piano and a nice understated feel. Manenburg Revisited’s bass is fantastic, I’ve never really heard much jazz double bass played like that, and the piano led melody is great, punctuated only briefly by the horns, conjuring a nice smooth Film 89 feel, an excellent track. The flute, piano and slightly pastoral atmosphere of The Mountain, make it a rather pleasant and pretty song. The rest, while not necessarily bad do just tip into slightly irritating, with not enough piano and too many stereotypical jazz tropes of walking bass lines, splashy/brushy cymbals and overly prominent horns. Sameeda is probably the worst for this, with those comically low horns, and feeling like jazz parody. It also feels like a lot of the riffs and melodies are familiar, like Moon River on the Wedding. Maybe they are intentional references, but often it feels like they are going to turn into something well known, before drifting off somewhere less interesting. Overall the good tracks do just about outweigh the more boring tracks, and I did find it more listenable with repeat listens. While I may not actively seek this out again I wouldn’t be that bothered if it came on. High 2, low 3 territory, I’ll go 2 as realistically I doubt I will ever listen again. 🚰🚰 Playlist submission: Manenburg Revisited

I like jazz as much as the next man and i enjoy having my horizons broadened with world music, but i didnt see anything out of the ordinary here. It passed by and wasnt offensive but nothing stood out.

Started good, then solemn, then next track sounds like the menu music or first level music from a child's video game 😂 kinda decent though, enjoyable at least.

1986. Jazz

Water From An Ancient Well" é uma experiência auditiva sublime. A sinergia entre os instrumentos é impecável, criando uma atmosfera rica e envolvente. Ibrahim conduz uma jornada sonora que eleva o jazz a novas alturas, proporcionando um verdadeiro orgasmo para os ouvidos.

Something for everyone.

This is the kind of album I get excited about- it comes from a part of the world of which I am wholly unexposed, it is awesome, and also it reminded how much I like jazz. I wish we got more worldwide exposure on this list. I (probably) like the standard rock that makes it onto this list as much as the next guy, but I think this project is at its best when it is expanding horizons and forging bridges.

Excellent instrumental. Jazzy and Bluesy. Very cool music.

Smooth but unpredictable in the nice ways that make my brain smile. Made me happy and didn't outstay its welcome. Also the history of his music is cool.

5/5

A beautiful mellow set, perfect for a relaxing evening. Challenging in scope, but soft on the soul.

Absolute banger

I had no idea what to expect from this and wow I love it. Listened to it 3 times and it grew on me each listen, which is the mark of a keeper. For that reason it’s getting a surprise 5

Beautiful jazz album. On repeat. 5/5

This is pretty much dead center for me. Right on the cusp of all this brilliant, American folk, Copeland-esque harmony of the plains, very new school, Keith Jarrett, but also mournful, spiritual-feeling, even in the way the horns are played. But… just the tip! Tiny bit of that, and stone cold horn standout solos here, too. I love it. I love it! Is it just me, or do the horn player all sound like they’re really buds in real life, pal-ing around, trading lines? It’s so loose and fun! 1001, I love you, but you have been a slog recently. Sometimes the generator just wants you to have REM album after REM album. With a nice after-dinner serving of Costello. No, but this! This is some genuinely good shit! 5/5

Thoroughly enjoyed this one. Great listening.

Amazing jazz record that I would have never heard of if not for this list.

I don't know how to describe what I just listened to - this is one of the most easygoing listening experiences I've ever had. I regret having not heard of Abdullah Ibrahim before (nor many of the other various players here) - but he's a leading figure in the 'Cape Jazz' subgenre that's rooted in South Africa. While it doesn't deviate too far from your typical 'Cool Jazz' formula, it almost takes a maximal approach to that subgenre ... in a minimal way that is. The song 'Manenberg Revisited' for example may be the most spacey here, but the light horns, piano, and especially that bassline allow for that voided space to thrive effortlessly, making "the space" its own instrument. It all feels like some sort of stroll, never pushing too far ahead too fast as it soaks in its own beaming atmosphere. It exercises its rudimentary ideas to the max before moving on to new ones; it reminds me a lot of ambient music in that sense. A lot of elements here reminded me of spiritual jazz as well, especially the shorter 'The Mountain'. This album maximizes minimalism, traditionalism, and clarity without ever coming off as dull or boring. It all feels like you're staring out into the sunset on the beach while it soundtracks the closing credits to a day filled with excursions and peace (especially with the title track). Some damn good jazz. And so so chill and soulful. Really loved this one.

Chill music makes for a nice commute. I'll look into more of his music & compositions.

Absolutely goated Jazz album. Feel like I need to play this on a record player, kick my feet up, and drink tea.

Yep, this one is great. Only part that jammed me up is that Apple Music didn’t have it available for the US. So listened in YouTube and got interrupted with ads

Really good! I’d be happy to throw this on anytime.

Absolutely beautiful! Ended up listening to it three times and it's been added to my bedtime I'm going to sleep now playlist

A really great album! I hadn't realized that I had heard some of these standards before. Ibrahim is a fantastic pianist. 5/5!

Absolutely beautiful. Soft buttery jazz that one simply melts into. Really recommend this album. 👌

Very nice

A beautiful album, a real surprise for me. Recorded in 1986, this is classic jazz and sounds like it could have been recorded 20 years sooner. Great playing by everyone involved and fantastic melodies.

"Water from an Ancient Well" is a jazz album by South African pianist and composer Abdullah Ibrahim. Ibrahim moved to New York in 1960 and lived in exile until the early 1990's. In that time, he recorded this album at Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. The album was produced by Sathima Bea Benjamin and besides Ibrahim also included Carlos Ward (alto flute), Ricky Ford (tenor sax), Charles Davis (baritone sax), David Williams (bass), Ben Riley (drums) and Dick Griffin (trombone). Ibrahim was a leading figure in the subgenre of Cape jazz. Piano and the horns open "Mandela." This has a fast pace and reminds me of jazz from the 1940's. Separate sax and trombone solos and then they join together. That is a pattern in this album. "Song for Sathima" slows things down with the piano and horns. A New Orleans vibe. An array of sax solos. This is very romantic and perfectly fits the title. "Mannesburg Revisited (Capetown Fringe)" has piano and drums with a machine-like beat. Very nice play between the piano and horns. A dramatic ending. "Water from an Ancient Well" starts with a slow piano melody. The drums and horns come in in unison. Sax and trombone solos all around with the baritone sax knocking it out of the park. And, a bass solo. Yes! The band just jams at the end. Epic at 11 minutes! "The Wedding" is slow and romantic with the tenor sax in lead. This reminded me of a slow dance. The song builds with the piano and drums. And, no they did forget the flautist. "The Mountain" has the alto flute in the lead. This made my day. This is soothing and just a great listen. The multiple horns take turn in the lead both within and between songs. The piano, bass and drums laying the foundation. The music just amazingly fits the song titles. I need to listen to more of Abdullan Ibrahim. Actually, I did after listening to this a few times. I was not disappointed. A recommendation for everyone.

Really glad this came up. Definitely gonna listen again!

The fuck!! This is a gem

Beautiful melancholic jazz. There are a few swingin' songs on here but most are subdued.

I didn’t know peace until I heard this album.

These songs are works of art. They go deep. They often have unconventional, exploratory structures but always feel pure of intention. From the heart and the head, but much more towards the heart. The sax playing is very melodic and soulful. Beautiful stuff

I don’t know a lot about jazz, but this album made me want to take the world by its hand and lively dance around a very small room with it, then hold it close and just let time move around me in slow, infinite circles.

Ancient Well scratched an itch I didn't know I had. Surprising and delightful. Not at all what I was expecting, but exactly what I needed.

Too sophisticated for me but great elevator music

Dis ca zo, el pimer disco en su toatlidad instrumental que me voló la cabeza, es tan ilustrativo y tan expresivo que lo volví a reescuchar mientras escribo esto, un completo ejemplo de lo que hacer en un disco sonoro. Cuadno destacar, las variaciones, repeticiones, los vientes, que bien los vientos, no se, no se que más decir las palabras nunca son justas enfrente a esta pintura musical 10/10.

Real groovy, made me happy

I’ve recently made my fondness for trombones known on this site. The trombone is featured throughout this album, giving it an edge in my ratings. This album is an excellent step in further acclimatizing me to jazz. I enjoyed it a lot.

Want

Jazzy!! good so far! 5 star - maybe not specifically this album although its not bad but all the low key jazz piano music that comes after listening to this is (chefskiss)

Fantastic. "Song for Sathima" is so sad and beautiful. And the melody kept surprising me with where it went. The players interact with and contrast each other in interesting, surprising way. Like the bassist who sounds like he's playing these little fragments of scales almost removed from what everyone else is playing. But it fits into the larger picture. The bass is awesome throughout -- it sounds almost funky on "Mannenberg Revisited." I like that the bass is upfront in the mix. Sometimes it can be hard to hear the bass solo in jazz but not here. There's a lot of creative, inspired playing throughout the album. The solos feel untamed. I was surprised to learn that the band leader is the pianist because that's the instrument I noticed the least on a first listen. I'm looking forward to playing to this album more and listening for him.

Smooth jazz. Great for background music. Love it!

Love this album and love Jazz in general.

I really like this. Makes me feel cheerful. Also having no lyrics makes it so good to listening when focus is needed. Loved it!

beautiful

amazing

Everything about this was great. The timing of where it came up for our group also could've helped. We needed something mellow.

I've often grumbled against the glaring omissions in the jazz selections of this list, but with this particular album, I'm forced to admit that Dimery and co. simply dug gold. I'm not a jazz specialist, just an open-minded amateur, so I didn't know who Abdullah Ibrahim/Dollar Brand was at all. Therefore, I've listened to this record with absolutely zero expectations, and I must say I'm totally enthralled by it now. It started off in quite a subdued way, though. At first, "Mandela" sounded a little too big band-like, almost too quaint to my ears, in spite of the obviously important theme suggested by its name, especially coming from a South African musician. But then each track that followed grasped my attention in a different way, from the gentleness of "Song For Sathima" and the driven focus of "Marenberg Revisited" (a variation on an important musical milestone written by Ibrahim more than a decade earlier--and a significant instrumental statement against Apartheid), and this continuing up to the arabic flavors of "Tuang Guru" and the heartwrenching finale of the short ballad "The Wedding". Closer "Sameena" was also a huge surprise in the way its minimalistic, nearly atonal introduction on brass and winds steadily grew into a meditative piece that ensnared my ear up until the very last Just like for pianist Ibrahim, I didn't know the other performers on this record either, but they're all doing an excellent job conveying the myriad emotions and colors gathered in this tight, tight package. *Water From An Ancient Well*'s scope is so impressive, and its tracklisting is so dynamic--so varied yet so cohesive too--that it instantly got a 5-star mark from me. This sort of thing doesn't often happen, so you can be sure I'll return to that proverbial well from time to time... Number of albums left to review or just listen to: 877 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 67 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 30 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important): 27

Ahhh que bonito es lo vi ito

Gorgeous jazz piece

Loved it!

Enjoyed this album a lot. Players are all amazing, so much to hear and discover. Will definitely listen to a few more times at least

For some reason Apple Music shows the album but it won’t play. Had to go song by song to search for them on compilations. Which was a pain in the $&@ but worth it. Very cool music. Another artist and album I never heard any of it before, yet it was somehow familiar.

This was an enjoyable listen. I got Coltrane vibes at times and Vince Guaraldi vibes at others.

++: Mandela, Song for Sathima, Manenberg Revisited (Cape Town Fringe), Tuang Guru, Water from an Ancient Well, The Wedding, The Mountain, Sameeda 9,6/10

I readily admit that jazz is one of my blind spots. I enjoy and appreciate it whenever I listen, but, unlike with certain other genres, I don’t have the toolkit to understand or critique the music in its finer details. So for this review, I’m going on “feel.” With so few jazz releases in the 1001 Albums to Listen to Before You Die book, any inclusion must be truly groundbreaking or culturally significant. I'm not entirely sure Water From An Ancient Well meets either of those marks, but it is excellent in presenting a meeting of global jazz traditions with a touch of African flair. The musicianship here is undeniably top-tier. Ibrahim’s intricate compositions, along with the band’s skilled improvisation, create a rich tapestry of sound. The interaction between the instruments—particularly the dialogue between the piano and saxophone—is captivating. For example, in the track "Water from an Ancient Well", the deep, resonant tones of the piano pair beautifully with the subtle saxophone lines, creating an almost spiritual atmosphere. That said, the album can sometimes feel meandering. Some tracks seem to lose focus, with long stretches of improvisation that might feel a bit aimless to a casual listener. The lack of a clear melodic anchor in certain sections occasionally left me feeling adrift, though I imagine this open-endedness is part of the allure for more seasoned jazz listeners. Abdullah Ibrahim is a key figure in blending African and jazz music. This album showcases his ability to merge African rhythms with jazz improvisation, offering a unique cultural perspective. In the context of South Africa’s apartheid era, the album becomes a musical assertion of African identity on the global stage. Did/Do I own this release? No. Does this release belong on the list? The inclusion in 1001 Albums is deserved, not for revolutionizing jazz, but for exemplifying Ibrahim’s contribution to bridging cultures and pushing the boundaries of the genre. Would this release make my personal list? No. Will I be listening to it again? I can definitely see myself returning to this every now and then.

Inventive, tight and joyful jazz album 4.3

Not sure if I'd listen to this for anything but background music. However, this is very smooth, very nice background music. To quote my husband, "This jazz is...jazzy."

Some of the more pleasant jazz I've heard so far. The musicians sound like they are playing the same piece. If someone wanted to try jazz for the first time, this would be a good choice. Not chaotic like some of the more adventurous jazz albums I've gotten before

This album was such a nice surprise! I absolutely loved it to bits. I've been searching for nice instrumental music that isn't lofi (which I feel like ALL "chill" music is lofi these days). And whenever I search for chill jazz, it's not "quite my tempo" so to say. It's not too simple where it's boring, it's not too complicated where solos are melting your face, but complex enough where replaying songs allow you to hear new things each time. It's nice, it's smooth, it's "buttery", it's interesting, it's a great freaking album. 4/5

Nice easy to listen to jazz

Enjoyable.

Was familiar with some of his older. More straight ahead jazz music, and also heard some of his stuff from the early '70s and into the '80s. Somehow I missed this album, which seems like the perfect blend of a million things all rolled up into one. I very much enjoyed this, and me may search out an original album for my collection.

This was a cool jazz album. More traditional than I was expecting, given that the artist is South African, but it was a very pleasant listen 4/5

very soothing study music

4/5

Loved it.

Loved this. Rainy Sunday morning, egg poaching jazz

very smooth, liked it a lot

Very good.

Unexpected, but I liked the vibe

A gorgeous and happy-making jazz record. "Mandela" swings ever so sweetly (the man inspired some great and joyful music). There's an Ellingtonian feel throughout (especially the lush, langourous and lovely "Song for Sathima") that plays as celebratory rather than derivative. Such polish and elegance in the playing and barely an ill note across the whole side. "Manenberg Revisited" is gossamer beauty, a light breeze on a warm, sunny day on top of a gently(and interestingly) skiffling rhythm section. "The Mountain" is beauitful – one wishes only that it were longer. "Sameeda" gestures at post big-band tonalities. What a record. Delighted to have made its acquaintance.

Really beautiful.

Jazzy little bop

Walked into this without knowing anything, even then it was not anything I expected. Would maybe like it better at a different time and different headspace but I can tell it is well done.

One of the first jazz ones I’ve liked but it does seem easier to digest and more accessible than those others. It was pretty good but reading the context of this album from some of the reviews makes it so much cooler. Rating: 3.8

Smooth and Cool! Favorite track: Manenberg revisited other picks: mandela, song for sathima, the wedding

V peaceful

Subtle African flavours mixed into a relaxing jazz piece that delivers a great soundtrack for every cooking session or a soothing

MMMMM yeah this is just what I needed to listen to today. So jazzy so good.