Reviews (page 4 of 7)
3 балла, но без негатива, просто не часто слушаю такую музыку.
Enjoyable jazz, but nothing remarkable for me.
I'm personally not a fan of jazz but if I had to listen to it this would be all right... For a while.
10/28/25. Solid jazz record. Probably should give it more listens to leave a more advanced review, but enjoyed it.
è jazz. non capisco se è jazz fatto bene o meno, dato che non ci capisco niente, ma come musica di sottofondo è piacevolissima.
I enjoyed it but didn’t vibe with it as I do other jazz albums
That’s jazz [jazz hands]! Fr tho, nondescript jazz as. Not bad, just my take
Some songs sounded like christmas songs, while others were more somber. It was more classic jazz than free jazz, but I don't think that's a good characteristic. Enjoyable listen though.
Pleasant background music.
This is a nice background album but mildly uninteresting as far as jazz goes. Most of the instrumentation is pretty fun and pleasant to listen to. Fav song: Manenberg revisited
An inoffensive instrumental jazz album. Nice to listen to while I walked, but did not find it particularly memorable
Sort of non descript jazz album. It was ok but not sure why it made it to this list since there are much more important and great jazz albums out there.
Solid stuff. Wish it was available to stream rather than listen on YouTube where an annoying commercial popped up after every song. 3.5/5
surprisingly good
Felt a little old timey jazz, big band derivative for me. Probably best enjoyed not three pour over’s deep in Bushwick while trying to figure out how to incentivize a home sale in Fl
i feel like i am in the breakfast sequence of a movie from late 80s, sun shining through the wooden panel curtains and high fructose orange juice filling the glasses/eggo filling the plates
Great!
Bom álbum, instrumental e bem jazzy. Me pareceu algo feito para um musical, com construção de ritmos e da trama ao longo do decorrer do álbum. Bom para deixar tocando como som de fundo em casa.
Unavailable on Apple Music
Good jazz but didn’t really blow my socks off at any point.
Not big on jazz but there were standouts
Nicely swaying quite traditional jazz. Enjoyed it, but didn't feel the urge to add this to my future playlist
Very generic jazz that brings to mind shopping centers and christmas parties which are not designed with anyone specifically in mind. I have no qualms with the musicianship, it's just that I can't hear or understand it. I find all that great playing buried under the routine of delivering jazz standards to the tee, makes it sound mundane and boring. Also, the piano keeps playing what ever the hell it pleases, just barely keeping to the framing of the rest of the song and still sounding like it's part of the whole, which is quite impressive feat. Like a kid skipping in circles around jogging adults, all the while playing lazily itsy bitsy spider with their hands for hours on end.
top 3: - the wedding - song for sathima - mandela
A perfectly fine smooth jazz album. Nothing special but good for background music at a dinner party or other such thing.
Hotel lobby, background jazz.
I’ll admit, when I saw the name Abdullah Ibrahim and the title Water From an Ancient Well, I thought, what is this going to be? I was totally going in blind on this one. Turns out it's jazz, like the jazz you can listen to, not the John Coltrane type jazz where everyone is playing totally different rhythms and keys and time signatures. This style of jazz reminded me of A Charlie Brown Christmas and the Vince Guaraldi trio. There isn’t much information out there about this album, Ibrahim is a South African pianist and composer who is also known as Dollar Brand. Now that’s cool. I’m not really a jazz guy, I just know what I like. I’m not sure I’m smart enough to know what I’m supposed to get out of this album. This kind of jazz isn’t very complicated, so it’s very enjoyable and easy to digest. The album came out in 1986 and a lot of the songs sound like they could be in ‘80s rom-coms at the time. The bass sound really lodges you right in the ‘80s. The songs are very good. I listened to the album three times already and it gets better every time I hear it. Am I grateful to have heard this album before I die? Kinda? I’m probably not going to put it in my regular rotation, but for jazz lovers who may have missed this album, I think you’ll enjoy it.
Huggulegheit með pólitísku ívafi.
i enjoyed it
This jazz music was upbeat and easy enough to listen to, even if not my style.
Interesting in parts and very mood orientated. For its genre its very good and there are moments to treasure but its not a great album by any means. The wedding is very good though
Приятный легкий джаз с экзотическими нотками.
Pretty cool jazz but didn't really strike me as being super special or anything.
Pretty enjoyable. I was pleasantly surprised
I like jazz. This is some good jazz. That's basically it.
Not my style
What I hear in my when I think of classic jazz - which I don’t have much of a framework for. I loved the mellow, warm sounds of “Song For Sathima”. I felt like taking an easy, careless nap after this one, it was such a sweet listen. “Manenberg Revisited” felt like the soundtrack for a lovely day walk into town - a bright, happy-to-be-here sound. Maybe a bit ‘vintage’ fir it’s time of release but this was a pleasant 3/5 for me
Not what I was expecting from Abdullah. Big swing jazz. I enjoyed it. I really love being exposed to this type of music that I don’t know much about. There was some really good songs on here. I feel like this a solitary listen though. Something to use to escape into one’s self. Meditative. I could keep this in rotation.
The standout song, in my opinion, is "The Mountain". That will be added to regular rotation. I also enjoyed "Song for Sathima" and the overall sound. It was a bit more ?relaxing? than I would have liked or that didn't fit with the mood while I was listening to it. "Sameeda" while I wouldn't say I disliked it, I suppose that is kind of what jazz is known for? The instruments are speaking in their own language. It was interesting.
Has it’s moments - but ultimately not good, not bad. Just jazz. Still not for me.
really cool smooth tracks. Nice jazz.
I still don’t know enough about jazz to say whether this was good or not. But I didn’t hate it, so that’s the important thing.
Really peppy first song, but the other numbers were just okay. Interesting to hear a variation of “United We Stand,” whether it was intentional or not.
I like the opening track. The rest is definitely jazz. Not bad. Good background music.
The cover fooled me. Spins: 1 Playlist Additions: - Mandela - Manenberg Revisited - The Mountain
This is certainly jazz
Best Song: Manenberg Revisited. Maybe because it had the most listens, I was biased to like this one the most. Worst Song: None? Overall: Extremely relaxed, background sort of jazz album. It sat so far in the background (and outside of my typical genres) that I didn't realize when the album had ended and Spotify had begun to play another artist entirely. That said, I didn't hate what I heard.
I still struggle to determine if this is "good jazz" or "bad jazz," as I am still an idiot when it comes to jazz music and whether I should enjoy it or not. I was able to tell the difference in this jazz sound and some of the other more blues-based jazz I have heard from John Coltrane and Duke Ellington. It seems this album is in the book because it's more of an international jazz type of flavor. I enjoyed the sounds on here, though I don't think I would revisit it again. There are only 8 tracks but I enjoyed: Mandela Manenberg Revisited The Wedding
The first album I have know absolutely nothing about. Pleasant enough Jazz. 3.5 rounded down Heard before? Nothing Owned: Yes. 9/1001, 9/39 (23%) Will I get? No
I liked this enough but won’t be coming back to it. Favorite track: Song For Sathima
Recently I've looking for more post-70s jazz albums but this ain't it. Not bad but nothing special 2.5/5
Pretty fun & free-flowing jazz album. The wheel certainly wasn't reinvented here, but it made for an easygoing listen.
I really like this! sometimes I want a soundtrack and this is an amazing one for so many things - a montage of shopping scenes, an intriguing introduction at a bar, a home invasion, walking through a casino. this is music to romanticize your life to!
Ok-Jazz, nothing I will return to.
It sounded a bit too dated and cheesy, it didn't whet my jazz appetite as much as other selections I’ve had here
I liked the smoother parts , enjoyable listen
There’s a gentle, easygoing quality to this that is quite lovely, but also not terribly profound? Basing this on the handful of tracks I could find.
Jazz is great
Clearly talented jazz group, but chill enough to put me to sleep. I prefer the jazz that gets your blood pumping Not bad for a sleepy, rainy night in, though.
I have no idea about Jazz. This was ok to my philistinic ears.
Not bad but not as entertaining as the other jazz albums I’ve heard so far on this list
Admittedly, I do not really listen to jazz often or know how to evaluate it. It was good, pleasant to listen to, and i would enjoy it if I heard it again
Day591 - pretty good album title for a pretty basic jazz album
An actually decent jazz album. Not too out there or experimental sounding and rather easy to listen to. 3.5/5
Buen disco de fondo musical. Muy agradable
Water from an Ancient Well is an enjoyable jazz record that I'd never recognize if I heard it again. It also sounds more interesting when you read about the ideas behind it than when you actually listen to it.
Well I really dont know jazz. I like it but I don't understand it very well. There are some very great parts for sure. On the title track the stand up bass part is killer. Dude is pluckin away. Thank tidal by the way for having the whole record except for that song. Wtf is that? Not the records fault obviously but still annoying to listen to the low quality YouTube audio. Got the point though. The saxes all over the place are another standout performance. But I mean every part is done by a great musician. Just those two stand way out to me personally. I'll need to give it another go another time but good stuff
What a great album for my walk through the park (that was rly a cemetery… so maybe won’t go walking there again not sure what the rules are about that but wanted to check it out cuz it’s a big green area nearby). Very pleasant! Glad I heard it!
I normally like my jazz with a bit more energy, leaning closer to bebop. This was ok however. Not bad but I fail to see what makes this so special. I mean it was released in the mid 80s, so it's not like this was groundbreaking or anything like that. I enjoyed "Manenberg Revisted" and "The Mountain" in particular. Mid 3.
creepy to get this a day after i talked about it
Cool and funky and reminds me of music played by my dad in evenings and on weekends. Chill. Glad I listened.
A pleasant little jazz record but nothing too memorable or anything that stands out. Even if this was on streaming I probably wouldn’t revisit it
This was a pretty cool and soulful jazz album, and Abdullah Ibrahim is definitely a talented pianist. He’s from Cape Town, and this album expresses the challenges of exile. Musically, it blends jazz with African folk and traditional elements. To be honest, it just sounded like a cool jazz album to me, and while it was interesting to read about the cultural influences, I didn’t really pick up on the African elements. Either way, it was a cool listen.
2.8 / 5 The funky baselines kept this at a 3 for me. Needed more jazz flute - call Ron Burgundy! Fave Song: Manenberg Revisited
Easy to listen to - I love a trombone solo. Best for me were The Wedding and Mandela.
I nothing this. It’s jazz. A medium I know precious little about and what appreciation I have for it comes from Damien Chazelle and Cowboy Bebop. It’s a firm 3. For jazz to be 4 it would have to be really upbeat and fun. For it to be a 2 or worse, it has to be the kind of jumbled “mess” many associate with jazz. How do you pick a favorite track? No really, how do you?
Short and sweet
Nice jazz album, I added a few to a chill playlist I have but not really connecting with this deeply. Seems very well executed but I won’t be coming back to this often. Tuang Guru was my favorite from these.
This falls into the "how was this found to be put on the list" list. I know spotify metrics are not everything, but a 1600 monthly listener mid 80's jazz musician making the most "alright" jazz album I've heard this month has put me in a strange mood. It's a good jazz record, but it doesn't stand out as more or less than a lot of the jazz coming out 30-50 years before this. Looking over other reviews, the main appeal of this album seems to be that it's political commentary on Apartheid in South Africa but I definitely did not glean that from the music alone. I'm wondering if his existence in South Africa at the time as a performing musician and what he was saying personally was what made these songs political, but I can't find really any information on it.
Given that this genre usually grates on me, this was a nice listen. Some variety in here. I could imagine listening again while I work or cook
This was surprisingly lovely because it's much more expressive and emotional than the other jazz I've heard. Really liked Mandela and The Wedding in particular. Sameeda was the only one I didn't like. I enjoy discordance, but not this!
This still has an "old school" jazz feel for something that came out in the 80s. Respect for staying true to form.
Enjoyable, but not mind-blowing, jazz album.
If you put a gun to my head and told me I had to listen to one jazz album on a regular basis for the rest of my life- I’d pick this one. THREE STARS
Pretty standard cafe jazz. It's fine background music, but not really exciting or innovative or anything. I don't really see why this album would be included, but I'm also not a jazz guy, so...
Yes, I went through the swing phase of the mid-90s. Yes, I was a band geek. Still, I wasn’t crazy about this album. Felt very supper clubby to me.
drei bis vier
Jazz para cocinar
Easy to listen jazz album that doesn’t stand out to me in any way.
Pleasant, easy listening jazz (the kind of jazz that involves flutes). I'm assuming this album has some historical significance that did not come through for me based on just listening to it.
Pretty decent jazz. A little too experimental to be easy on the ears. The intro to Song to Sathima gave me chills though.
Just another good jazz album, nothing really outstanding but it's pretty cool
It’s … fine. Not exceptional, it’s not Kind of Blue or A Love Supreme. I’m somewhat surprised it was included in this list to be honest.
I’ll add this to my Jazz Playlist. Favorite Track: Mandela
I cannot find this album anywhere
Dit is het vooroordeel dat ik ooit had over jazz. Behoorlijk oubollig. Ik ben geen fan van deze jazz-soort, dus het kan aan mij liggen, maar ik hoor niets vernieuwends ten opzichte van de drie decennia voorafgaand aan deze plaat.
Ну...вероятно на фоне послушать норм будет?
unremarkable but jazz is good
Blind album and artist. Famous south African jazz musician who previously went by the name of Dollar Brand? 3 stars for his previous name, and it sounded peaceful. Awesome dentist office lobby music.
Still don’t entirely appreciate jazz as much as I should but this was solid
Really not much interesting going on here.
5/10 Managed to have a good listen through. Liked it, didn’t love it. Some really good playing in there and some of the tracks were great, but it’s a bit of a mixed bag. As previously stated, sounds like a random assortment of tracks, rather than an album. Some really odd recording choices, particularly in Manenberg Revisited. Overall, I think there are some tracks in there that I’d come back to, but the album as a whole didn’t really grab me. Mandela - a bit too loose Song for Sathima - sort of reminded me of a much better Weather Report track (A remark you made) that I’d prefer to listen to. Manenberg Revisited - Like this track, but one of the instruments is recorded in a really off-putting way, like it’s clipping a ribbon mic the whole way through, but is then turned down in the mix. Tuang Guru - Like this, much better. Swings really nicely. Water From An Ancient Well - Loved this one. Smooth and playful. Plenty of little sections for each player to have a little bit of fun with the theme. Maybe a bit too long. The wedding - Nice enough, but I’d be pretty sad if this was a representation of my wedding. Quite melancholy. The Mountain - Again, nice enough, just a bit dull. Sameeda - Liked this one. Bit of a sudden change a couple of minutes in, but had a good swing to it. As previously mentioned, the muted trumpet is lovely. Bit meandering in places.
Pretty cool but not extra cool
Nice enough jazz album with occasional African vibe.
Never knew there was such a thing as South African jazz but I like this. I also suspect there are a lot of things I don't know about this artist and why this album was made. Calling your first track on your 1985 album "Mandela"? Yeah, there's a lot to unpack and I can't find much info.
This list has allowed me to hear jazz from other cultures, which I appreciate. Most of them I have really liked. And I like this too, but it’s not as interesting as most of the others. It’s nice, enjoyable jazz, but really just background jazz.
really good
Pretty cool! It feels very unique.
Estaba en una habitacion de hotel en helsinki, y fue relajante pero no estaba en el mood
3 calming background music
Favorite Track: Tuang Guru
I could have used a bit more pace to go with the sleepier tracks but, overall it was smooth and hip.
A beautiful album. I enjoyed the jazz. I wouldn't have expected that from an African band. All the better to have learnt something new here. I find one or two tracks on the album a bit tiring. Maybe I'll like them better after listening to them again. 3/5
de wonderen zijn de wereld niet uit... een te pruimen jazz album, wel wel wel... begon en eindigde zeer goed... in het midden viel het wat puddinggewijs in elkaar... maar toch van genoten
Fantastic instrumental album. Great for background music for tasks and chores.
Did not hurt but was not memorable either.
It was a interesting take on jazz, but the novelty wore off pretty quick for me I think, and from there it was just something that played in the background Standouts Song For Sathima 3/5
3/5
Nice tunes , thanks :)
Quite easygoing.
This was a pretty nice and relaxing album, by Various Artists, and it is just background music that is similar to what they sometimes play in some restaurants. Overall, nothing too exciting in the whole album, but it definitely wasn't too bad.
This is jazz Best Song: Mandela Rating: 6/10 (Adequate) Stars: 3/5
I’m completely unfamiliar with Abdullah Ibrahim, but based on this album cover, I would never have expected this album to be jazz; that looks like a background that Vic Rattlehead would be standing in front of. I never really listened to much jazz before I started this project, and it’s one of the genres I’ve struggled to connect with. I’m hoping this will be the first jazz album that I really love! While I didn’t love this album, it’s one of the jazz albums that I’ve liked the most from this list. I liked the instruments that were used, especially the flute and the bass. The piano and saxophone were really good too, but the songs that featured more flute playing were definitely my favorite. There seemed to be a good mix of emotions portrayed through this music; some songs felt hopeful and upbeat, while some felt more sad and solemn. Despite that though, the album still really cohesive in its sound. I thought that “The Wedding” was the best song on the album. I really loved the saxophone and piano playing, and it truly felt like a song about a new stage of love. The title track was probably my least favorite on the album, and of course it was also the longest song. It felt like it just droned on without going anywhere interesting, and it really didn’t keep me engaged. Overall, this album was fine, but I’ve come to learn that no matter how much I want to love jazz, it’s just not my favorite thing to listen to.
Jazz
I like the ska-jazz... skazz, maybe? feel of the opening track, and the safari-groove on "Tuang Guru" but the rest sounds like "Yep. That's jazz alright." I say if you are gonna spend your 1001 token on him, the cinematic African Space Program album under his pre-conversion name Dollar Brand is a more rewarding, if more challenging, listen.
While he spent much of his life in exile from the brutal apartheid government, Abdullah Ibrahim was born and raised in South Africa, where he absorbed much of the local traditional and gospel sounds. I don't hear much of that in this release, which sounds like a much more contemporary take on swing jazz. "Tuang Guru" and "Song for Sathima" are highlights. The rest is pleasant if unremarkable.
Like the hugh masekala, this was fine but something I'm unlikely to revisit.
I couldn't find this anywhere online to listen to. But did find the title track. So gave that a listen. It's nice. Features a Trombone(?). Always up for a bit of jazz trombone.
Solid album but nothing really popped out to me. I always appreciate the musicianship of jazz albums but I’d say only one song resonated with me on this one, which was “Manenberg Revisted”. The title track was fine too. The rest felt pretty run of the mill. All in all, a pleasant listen but nothing surprising.
its Jazz, but not up its own ass. This was pretty enjoyable to listen to, but I think its a good one and done deal. Nothing really stood out to me in particular, although it was a great mood setter, soft, it doesn't assault your ears.
Nice music
Nice music to work to.
Masterful album with great sounds and was a very soothing jazz album for an evening, not 100% my thing but can appreciate it.
Perus jazzia, joka tyypillisesti toistaa paljon itseään. Mutta tykkäsin.
Hyvää jazz-musisointia. Sopii vanhan koulukunnan pönöttelymeiningin taustalle. Sellaisellekin on joskus paikkansa.
Wasn't sure what to expect, but this is straight up jazz, like stereotypical jazz... like born in a laboratory, pure jazz distilled into a palatable mix.
A smooth & relaxing record
It's definitely one of the jazz albums of all time
Background dinner music. One way to make a living.
by no means a bad record, but I will always rail against the under-representation of jazz in the book. great musicians, but a mix that hides the rhythm section
Jazzy stuff, interessant en engaging, maar verder weinig waar ik ooit naar terug zal keren of echt iets van bij zal blijven. 6.5/10
Default jazz rating
The Good: We’re getting water from a well! The Bad: The well has been dry for a while… The Ugly: Trying to ask for more water with a dry throat… What? So, we’ve got jazz. So, we’ve got some politics. So, we’ve got another album listed which makes me wonder why I am even bothering anymore… To respond to that last comment, it is so that I can 5* to all those albums which I believe to be worth 5* And this album isn’t one of them. Simply put, you take a classic style of music, but record it decades later, and we need to be impressed? The list could have just added a great Swing album from the Swing era instead, no? Sorry Abdullah, you are getting 2 1/2*
Too good for background music but not quite there to make a splash
Very chill no lyrics smooth jazz? 3.5
Pleasant, but as far as the jazz I've been introduced on this list goes, this seems...rather pedestrian?
While "Water from an Ancient Well" may not possess the frenetic energy of Louis Prima's "The Wildest" or the innovation of Miles Davis' "Birth of Cool," Abdullah Ibrahim has crafted a remarkable collection of jazz pieces infused with some South African rhythms, resulting in a distinctive sound. Ibrahim's piano often takes a supportive role, allowing other musicians to shine and contribute a rich array of melodies and sounds, which range from vibrant big band swing to more subdued and reflective tunes. This is no more apparent than on the highlight of the album, "Sameeda," a winding slow build into an upbeat big band track that serves as a fitting closing to the album. What I appreciated most about this album is its catchy and rhythmic quality, offering a diverse range of sounds without becoming sonically disjointed or jarring. "Water from an Ancient Well" was a fun discovery.
Nothing crazy impressive, but makes for decent background music. The African style that flavors it keeps it more interesting than it'd be without it.
Paar Songs sind schön Overall sehr entspannt
What marks this out as South African jazz to me is the bass, particularly on track 3 where it manages to sound both chilled and sprightly in a typically African way. I dig it. Other than that, I couldn’t really separate it from other jazz. It was pleasant background music that didn’t make a strong impression on me. 2.5. / 3
Judging from the title and its country of origin, you'd expect this to be one of Dimery's attempts at proving he's heard music outside the western tradition. Instead, you get a very "classic", USA-inspired jazz sound that could almost have been a relic from the early 60's, safe from its anachronistic crisp sound quality. It's no bad time by any means, but if you're going to have, like, approximately six albums representing the entire continent of Africa... is this really the one you want to be picking?
I’m not totally sure I listened to the right album, but I’m glad I had a listen to this one that appears to have come out the same year as “Water From An Ancient Well.”
3.5
This is alright. Pretty smooth jazz, nice horns and the first track in particular is fun. As usual I don't really have the attention span to properly enjoy a full jazz album
South African Jazz. Had a heck of a time finding a digital version with the title track. Solidly middlin.
It was fine, but I'm still too stupid to enjoy most jazz as anything other than background noise
Fun album with some good hits. Taper Jean Girl is an all timer though
Jazz. idk
A decent album for jazz music I suppose
This absolutely one of the jazz records of all time. 3/5
I anticipated dour sound experiments based on the title and the artwork, happily wrong.
I had no clue what to expect from this album, but I liked it. I don’t know how often I’ll revisit this one, but it did make for good background music while working.
Someday Soon Sweet Samba and the title track were standouts.
This was pretty good jazz.
Quite enjoyed this!! But wouldn’t rank it amongst some of my fav jazz albums out there… still seems like an incredible person and musician!
Pleasant but not particularly interesting
Pretty chill… but in all honesty… a bit pedestrian for my tastes! But this guy seems cool
Accessible, easy listening Jazz. 7/10
first listen was rough. sound of spit vibrating is super annoying. on second listen it's pretty good. meh
Pleasant enough, but does fade into the background
The good parts sound like old-school 40s and 50s jazz, so why wouldn't I just listen to that?
It was ok. Some interesting compositions but pretty straight ahead. Didn't feel like much special here.
Listenable but nothing special. A good example of why he's always been a mid-level player.
Nice background music but I'm don't know enough about Jazz to assess this.
Had to listen on Youtube b/c it wasn't available on Apple and was struck by the top comment which I'll repost here: "First time hearing this song. Reminds me of my ‘special friend’, who died just before the epidemic. He was a romantic and a dancer. I imagine myself wrapped in his arms, dancing so closely. Makes me remember all our best times. Thank you for this beautiful, smooth song." Good reminder that stuff that doesn't reach us often reaches others powerfully.
It was fine, nothing too special at least to my ear.
Solid, but short. I wanted more.
A jaunty, enjoyable jazz outing. The opening track Mandela was my favourite, I’ve already caught myself whistling the refrain. And I mean this in a complimentary way, most of this sounds like it could be the score to a children’s cartoon, like a kind-vibe 90s-00s PBS show along the lines of Curious George or Martha Speaks. (3.5 stars)
Delightful background music for the Sunday night blues. Will be keeping this in rotation for the nights I just need a low level ambient mood to filter through the house. 3.6 stars.
This didn’t appear to be available on my chosen streaming platform so I've been fair and gone roughly down the middle with the rating cause jazz is okay
Okay but, a compilation?
Why does the streaming service of my choice have the whole album EXCEPT THE TITLE TRACK? Anyways, this is a good album. Not the most bombastic jazz and that's quite all right. You can tell there's a story with the movements.
Solid album. Well played jazz. Not my favorite in the genre. It's pretty laid back. I want to call it background music for a fancy cafe, but that's insulting and dismissive. I guess nothing really sticks out to me and that's why I feel that.
Good listening jazz. Enjoyable but feel like it opened new doors or blazed any new paths.
Wasn't bad in the background.
I thought this was fine. I was able to listen to it.
It's jazz. It's jazz that sounds like it would play at a nicer restaurant or new year's eve party. It's perfectly fine.
A pretty traditional Jazz record - despite what the cover art would imply. It’s a very clean sounding style of Jazz which is really not my favorite. I wouldn’t seek this record out again - but it was in no way bad.
There’s a calm, reflective beauty to Water From An Ancient Well, but it also feels like it’s got one foot stuck in the past. The playing is smooth, the melodies are lovely, but the whole thing has a slightly dusty, "Grandads jazz collection" vibe. It’s well put together, but it never really pushes—just sort of flows along, happy to exist. At its best, like on the title track, you get glimpses of something deeper, but too often, it leans into that overly polite, hotel-lobby sound where you’re nodding along but not exactly moved. The biggest issue? It feels a bit too safe. Ibrahim is clearly a great musician, but this album plays like a well-behaved history lesson instead of something alive and unpredictable. It’s the jazz equivalent of a really nice but wood wormed antique chair—you can appreciate the craftsmanship, but you wouldn’t want to sit in it for too long. Pleasant? Yeah as background music, Essential? Not really.
Listened to this while yaking a walk in the park, which really suited the music. There are some really nice progressions, bass lines, and melodies thrown out throughout this album; it's not the classical kind of jaaz and I usually find a little too stiff and boring. Will listen again.
Um, I really couldn't rate this album. Obviously these are amazing musicians, but how do we go from TSwift to this? Giving a three because I see it as the most neutral option.
An understated and mostly backward-looking album with some nice playing, especially on sax. Ibrahim is a generous composer who plays like he has nothing to prove. Some of the records he made in the seventies are more compelling (my fave is probably The Journey). This one goes down easy and does not match the immediacy of those (or of its influences).
Pleasant! Wouldn’t mind this on in the background while doing work
Is Sameeda the NPR news theme?
Jazz like this always makes me think of Christmas Title track is the best one
well this was mostly pleasant. the history is interesting. i preferred the more straightforward jazz to the abstract last track, which i struggled not to turn off before it was over.
this was fine. definitely jazz. i appreciated it more on the second listen after reading about the context this album was released in, but it felt pretty inconsistent as a whole. but i'm also stupid and don't get jazz. favorites: mandela, manenberg revisited
I didn't have high hopes but Song for Sathima and Manenberg Revisited are both highlights, gentle bass and piano combining to create a wonderful quiet atmosphere. Title track not on Spotify for some reason, but worth hunting down. Good flute here and on Manenberg. I don't like the more up tempo tracks as much but there's good stuff here.
3/5
Easy enough as background music but not one for me to actively listen to.
I'm a big jazz fan yet I don't see why this in particular was recommended. There is a nice blend of smooth jazz, a little bit of bop, and a small tad of scooby-doo searching through an old creepy cellar music (Sameeda). I still enjoyed it (3.5 / 5), but I would like an explanation for why this was selected. Can I speak to the manager?
¯\_(ツ)_/¯. Sounds good. I don't have an ear for jazz at all (also I had to listen on youtube, so it was interrupted by ads, because one song isnt available on spotify). But this felt like it had a meandering tone that didn't really go anywhere (somewhat true of all jazz), which didn't help. And Jazz without words is harder for me to get into. But anyway as far as Jazz goes, I find I like Esperanza Spalding and Dave Brubeck more than this for reasons I can't describe. This was fine though. I liked The Wedding and the second half better. 3 stars.
Some days I listen to a Spotify curated playlist called “Jazz in the Background” when reading/working. I couldn’t tell you the difference between that experience and this one. I appreciate and enjoy the genre at the highest possible level.
I dug it.
decent, god sound
Much like the Wikipedia blurb I don't have much to say about this one. It is jazz, and it doesn't seem that deep or complex. Nothing on it is bad but nothing on it is really that engaging either. There is a lot better jazz albums out there. High 3.
True jazz, exquisite musicians who you know are incredible at their instruments, but then one steals the lead and improvises a tune that makes you question what music is. Nothing wrong with that at all, just a very acquired taste. These guys are undoubtably jazz masters, they lay down some sultry swing, blow them horns, and allow everyone to shine. I have to imagine that if I were hearing this live my mind would be blown. One day I may be more appreciative of jazz, and I try to open my mind to it, maybe it’s a switch that will flip one day?
ya like jazz
2.8 1x usually something I would rate higher but the scratchiness of the recording was offputting
Mostly stays in a chill , low-key mood which admittedly isn't my go to with jazz but they do a good job of filling out very lush textures.
This was nice. I enjoyed it, but it didn't blow me away or anything.
Jazzy! Enjoyed the listen, but not really my jam.
the titular song was an absolute treat to the ears and i can find myself coming back to that song in particular. the rest of the album however leaves alot to the imagination imo. song is a 5, the rest of the album is a 2, so landing on a 3
I hate trumpets - but other albums of the artist seem pretty nice.
Aika perus jazzia, eipä tästä oo oikein muuta sanottavaa. Etelä-afrikkalainen tyyppi. Ei huonoa. Parhaat: Tuang Guru, The Mountain
Probably good if you like jazz? I really don’t so
Gentle and pleasant. It felt lively and played with emotion, yet still easy listening. Nice to have on in the background
Not bad, but definitely just feels like the interstitial music from The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson.
One of the jazz albums of all time
Background music, but good background music. Take out the 4th track (and possibly the 7th) and it's actually a nice thing to have on.
Jazz isn’t my favorite genre, but I enjoyed this
This was pleasant enough but nothing special.
A pretty good jazz album just nothing stood out
I don't understand why this is on the list. It's not bad, but it sounds 30 years older than it is. Not bad, not great, rehashing what already existed. Favorite song: tuang guru.
Interesting.
Diverse
As far as jazz goes, this was OK. The only time I listen to jazz is when I need some background music while working.
Seeing this album cover and title, then realizing it's a jazz album is like opening a tin of cookies to find sewing supplies. Things do pick up around track 3, though.
Artiste connu de nom uniquement. Je trouve que cet album manque de dynamisme. Les chorus sont intéressants, mais aucune mélodie a retenu mon attention. Par contre j'ai apprécié la ligne de basse sur 'Mannenberg Revisited', et le rythme plus enlevé de 'Tuang Guru'. Dons découverte plutôt agréable, mais il ne rejoindra probablement pas ma collection. =3/5
абдулла абдурахман на пианино поиграл , джаза дал, красавец
I never understood how my parents listened to this type of music as a kid. But as an adult I understand the appeal. It’s soothing at times, delightful at others and all around good music. This was a nice way to start the day, I don’t think it was the most remarkable thing I’ve ever heard but it was enjoyable.
not bad, just not something I would listen to myself.
Enjoyed the percussion, horns and saxophone, lyric free album.
This album reminds me a lot of Christmas music for some reason. Pleasant enough but nothing I'm too excited about. Makes for solid background music.
It wasn't bad, really. As a jazz novice (at best) I don't know much about the genre, but it sounded nice.
Deels eens met de hilarische Looney Tunes comment, want het is wel echt de minst spannende, en meest veilige, vorm van jazz wat je kunt bedenken. Maar daarmee doe je het gevoel voor melodie, en de sereniteit wat als een rode draad door het album loopt, wel echt te kort. De titelsong en het wonderschone 'Song for Sathima' blinken daar in uit. Waka, waka, ey ey, this time for africa. Een 7. Highlights: Water From An Ancient Well Song for Sathima
Wat lekker zeg; een fijne toegankelijke jazzplaat op een langzaam donker wordende dinsdag namiddag. De plaat wordt richting het einde wat minder 'makkelijk' maar luistert eigenlijk heerlijk weg. Daar vibe ik vandaag gewoon wel lekker op. Veel trompet, altijd goed. Geen pretentieus gedoe en gewoon heerlijk swingende ritme-sectie. Less is more, zou ik willen zeggen, ook (vooral?) bij jazz. 7/10 Highlights Tuang Guru
Relaxing album. I would listen to this while doing some writing or work
Nice jazz listen, rolled along nicely, I enjoyed it overall.
I couldn’t find the entire album but I really did like him. So I can’t really give a fair review. That said I’ll leave at three
I was excited for this one, but nothing stuck for me.
Jazz is as jazz does
With a title like this I expected a much more spiritual jazz album but it's still pretty decent.
This is like my 9th jazz album on here. I like jazz but some of these albums just become background fodder noise and don’t really stand out as to why they are deserved of being on this list. 5/10
A lovely listen all around. Excellent drumming from low-key jazz legend Ben Riley
Nice jazz album
This was a pretty cool and soulful jazz album, and Abdullah Ibrahim is definitely a talented pianist. He’s from Cape Town, and this album expresses the challenges of exile. Musically, it blends jazz with African folk and traditional elements. To be honest, it just sounded like a cool jazz album to me, and while it was interesting to read about the cultural influences, I didn’t really pick up on the African elements. Either way, it was a cool listen.
2.8 felt like a more modern jazz fusion offering? I don't know. Standard jazz score.
This was at least on the easy listening side of jazz, so I don’t have too many complaints. Simpsons: No
Pleasant listen in the background.
It was pleasant enough but didn’t blow me away. I imagine if you don’t like jazz it was not so enjoyable
I'm surprised this was released in 1985 -- it sounds like its 20 years older based on the compositions. Not meant to be a knock; the 60s/70s classic jazz sound is one that is timeless for a reason. This was enjoyable, but some of the songs went a little into "cheesy" territory for my taste (e.g., The Wedding). Fine enough, but not something I plan to come back for anytime soon. High 3.
A cozy album! High side of 3. Very pleasant, but this is more sleepy jazz than morning jazz. Decent as calming background music, but I need a nap now!
Standing bass really coming through full force on some of these. Not my favorite jazz of all time but still an alright listen. Middle of the road 3.
Relaxing, jazz album. It's nice to listen to, but I'm not sure why this one is in here whereas loads of important jazz albums have been skipped? Another one to puzzle over. Best Tracks: Manenberg Revisted; Tunag Guru;The Mountain
En af mine favorit jazz albums vi har haft
Meget behageligt tog-musik, meget chill, måske også lidt basic. Lille 3er
This is a mixed bag, some I love, some I don't. It starts off sounding like Duke Ellington, track 2 was when I got really interested though, 'Song for Samitha' is a kind of sad drifting tune but gorgeous. 'Mountain Song' and 'The Wedding' are beautiful and I like 'Manenberg' too, the jazzy bass underpinning it all, and his great piano. I really wish I could sit and listen to this album with my Dad. I think we'd agree there's a lot to like but maybe not the final track, that's an odd one! I'm glad this came up on Abdullah's 90th birthday. What a talented chap :)
An odd tonal shift on the final track brought this down a star. Otherwise, a nice bit of music! Didn’t overstay it’s welcome and felt like a portal into an old film. Definitely felt like it could be an old 70s. movie soundtrack.
Jazz, strumentale, calmo.
Perfectly wonderful jazz. Not my thing.
Jazzy jay
一般.jpg
Nice to listen to.
This is either the 2nd or 3rd on this list where the album wasn't available through Apple Music. I found all but one track on YouTube. This was smooth and buttery jazz that you can spread on your toast and have with your morning coffee. Nothing wrong with that.
Straightforward jazz. No complaints here.
that was nice! idk what to say, you know i'm not a jazz head...i gotta have some words to hold on to....but it was pleasant enough.
Jazzy! (Obviously.) Very smooth and melodic. It didn't really get me excited, but had some very beautiful moments. It's not my area of expertise At All, so sadly I can't judge whether this is a stand-out in terms of jazz compositions, but I enjoyed it.
Water From An Ancient Well is a pretty decent jazz album that does have some flaws. The music is generally pretty relaxing and even beautiful when it wants to be (The Mountain is a big example of this) and generally is something i like when it comes to a jazz album. The album did go on for pretty long which could cause the melodies to get a little repetitive and the song transitions could also use some work but other than that, it is a fine and good jazz album that i liked the whole way through. Best Song: The Mountain Worst Song: Manenberg Revisited
One of my favourite rappers recently made a jazz-grime song that stuck in my head for 5 days and counting. I wished it was the moment jazz would click for me, but alas. I liked this album, but I'm still not there yet And the last song isn't great
Cute, playful, warming. Liked it but wasnt enamoured by it
Hmmmmm nice. Great. Really great.
idk much about jazz but this was pleasant! bonus points for being from south africa 7.5/10
Not sure on this. When it’s good, it’s decent, but too often it drifts to lounge music. First song probably the best one for me. Clearly great musicians with some nice parts, but there’s a lot better jazz out there more worthy than this.
Like most jazz we've had I am unsure how good this actually is as I didn't know anything about jazz. But, it was nice to have on in the background, plodded along nicely with a good tempo. Think 2.5 but 3 as I didn't find it jarring as some jazz we have
Jolly bit of jazz. Light and not too jazzy.
This was new, enjoyed it
Big band esc jazz, lounge-y, feel good background music. All in all a very pleasant listen. Can't say I recognize any individual songs from this album outside of this listen or that I'll come back to this record on my own volition, but I enjoyed it while it lasted. Side note, I feel like I was actually a little more productive at work with this in the background than the other albums I've had on this list that make you pay more attention (or in some cases question why you're even listening to it)
Not much to say about this album but, given the subtle political nature of it, it would be a mistake to assume that this is a rather soothing jazz record; for it pulses with a certain energy which is sustained throughout and the title track (which isn't on streaming services, mysteriously) is the backbone of the record and the defining song on here. Favorites: Mandela, Song for Sathima, Mannenberg Revisited, Water From an Ancient Well, Sameeda.
I was excited to listen to this when I saw the name of the album. The jazz was smooth and straightforward. Unfortunately I didn't really enjoy or dislike this one. Another album I would probably listen to as background music. The compositions were pretty good in my opinion and seem politically driven which was interesting.
Enjoyable though not that special. To my tin ears it just sounded generic not unlike the house band at a super club. That they are accomplished musicians can't be argued with but did they bring anything new to jazz?
Nice jazz, great grooves. Something about the recording sounded fuzzy/rattly, like a microphone with interference.. wasn’t constant but kept bringing me out of the moment (which hurts the rating unfortunately). Favorite track was ‘Manenburg revisited’ 3.5/5
This album is good backdrop music. I've noticed I like certain jazz for intentional listening and other more as background noise. This falls into the latter. It is good to listen to while being productive. The lyrics and music don't get in the way of your concentration.
Bueno
Nice easy listen to start the day. Got a little bit busy in sections which was not as enjoyable, but the other bits were nice. 3.5
8 songs in 47 minutes - and no words - makes for background music in my book; but very pleasant background music at that. Loses a point due to my own biases and knowledge gaps, both of which I am enjoying rectifying through this list (and planning listening for once I am done)
Jazz. Ni fu ni fa.
Mejor de lo que pensaba. Jazz.
It was good, had a more trad jazz feeling than I’d expect of an album recorded in the ‘80s. I’ll have to listen to it a few more times.
This left me cold. It’s got great reviews so needs another few listens.
A traditional jazz record that would've been more fittingly released in the 60s or earlier. I understand there's a political message somewhere in the music, but without any lyrics, it's very hard to pick up on. We see mentions of Mandela, Tuang Guru, Manenberg, and Sameeda, but these are largely unrelated to the tracks themselves, which consist of warm, full blues-jazz ensembles. You might as well have named the tracks after generals in the French Revolutionary Wars, or after exoplanets in distant star clusters. The music itself is a standard, forgettable level of "good". The piano and horns stand out the most amongst the instruments. Manenberg Revisited is also notable for its excellent, dynamic basslines. There's a soft, pleasant ambience present in most tracks here that's indescribably comforting, again acting as a weird contrast to the political implications. Regardless, the musicians here are clearly excellent at their craft. 3/5 Key tracks: Mandela, Song For Sathima, The Mountain
Mejor de lo que pensaba. Jazz.
A very pleasant listen. Nothing amazing, but also nothing abrasive.
I normally enjoy the jazz albums on this list, but this one didn't really capture me. Maybe I was just in a weird mood, or maybe there's not enough depth in this album. Either way, it wasn't bad or offensive. Just jazz
first listen extremely mid
I liked it a lot, but it wasn't the type of jazz I'm used to - it seemed less spontaneous than others, and some tracks exaggerated this in a way I wasn't too fond of.
Missed this desperately Once I hit an outdoor pool. Replaced by country. An interesting album. I'm still honing my understanding of jazz and South African music generally. Certainly a pleasant listen. Will listen again.
Compared to other later jazz recordings, I like that this lets the instruments get loud & unbalanced. I haven't been big on jazz for about 15 years and I'm not going to start a separate rating scale for it, so 3 stars it is.
I’m a Jazz Guy now
Nice instrumental album with various artists and good jazz