Reviews (page 5 of 7)
Nope. By fuck, jazz is woeful in any form isn’t it?
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.
That's some jazz.
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.
It's pleasant but forgettable.
Standard score of 2 for "it's jazz. "
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.
Really interesting record. Starts with some big band era swing, moves through golden era Blue Note bebop and ends with my favorite track, the post-bop 'Sameeda.' It's blowing my mind that this came out in 1986. It sounds like something from the mid 60s. The trumpet and saxophone are what make this project sing. But the group as a while is very tight.
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).
It's nice to have on - you hit play and kind of forget that it's on. Maybe you had to be involved in this scene at the time to really appreciate it, but 39 years later it doesn't feel particularly groundbreaking or interesting.
Some interesting stuff happening here. “Manenberg Revisited” has a really cool bass-driven polyrhythm that I loved. “The Wedding” is the most annoying sort of sax-driven smooth jazz.
El jazz es un estilo que a veces me cuesta apreciar. No es que este sea un mal álbum; reconozco la calidad técnica, pero me ha aburrido bastante. Empieza algo animado con "Mandela", un tema de estilo big band, y poco a poco se va volviendo más lento hasta llegar a lo casi soporífero. Además, tampoco creo que sea un álbum especialmente innovador, teniendo en cuenta que es de finales de los 80. En fin, me cuesta asignarle una nota. Lo voy a dejar en 2.5.
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
Nice music, for the nice people
Pretty straight jazz. Was surprised this was an 80s record, as it sound like something that would have been decades earlier. I fail to see how it pushes the envelope or a particularly mark of excellence or influence. It’s competently played, has interesting moments and fine on the ears, but mostly forgettable.
Just too slow
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.
Instrumental medio tribal pero grave, atmosférico. Bastante monótono y aburrido.
Hat mich nicht gepackt. Klang alles wie die Musik aus einem alten Tom und Jerry Film. Aber handwerklich nicht schlecht gemacht.
3/5
already in list
This album surprised me. Usually, I give Jazz the side-eye. Never know whether I am going to get something I can enjoy or something akin to a sonic colonoscopy. In this case, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Second south-african jazz album during my stay on this project. They seem to know their stuff when it comes to jazz - and they most certainly deliver. Easy on the ears, but with added layers of various instruments that don't make these songs boring.
9/10
Liked this, hearing the Monk influence. Am I giving an extra star because I discovered he is Jean Grae's dad, and he raised her at the NY Chelsea Hotel? Probably...
Easy enough as background music but not one for me to actively listen to.
I enjoyed most of this album. The start of it wailed a little too much for me and had me concerned, but really started enjoying as it worked into itself. Standout track manenberg revisited. Good resolution in some songs that tied it together.
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.
This isn't necessarily an album I'd listen to with my full attention. But it is something that would be nice to have on in the background while I'm doing something else.
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.
Occasionally this list gives you an obscure album by an artist with a name you've never seen before. And occasionally, the list gives you a record that's rather difficult to find. For instance, while 'Water From An Ancient Well' does indeed show up on Spotify, it's not labelled correctly. And to make matters messier, the title track isn't even available anymore (at least in America). Thus, the simple experience of listening to the record is made more difficult by requiring just a little more effort than usual. But that effort is memorable and helpful! Because of these reasons, I really dreaded my duty to put this on; however, by the time of 'Song for Sathima', the second track, I was completely charmed by the expressive and somewhat dusty touch of these performances. 'Song for Sathima' itself sounds like the backing track to a lost Tom Waits track. I'm delighted to have found another jazz gem to insert into the occasional rotation, a record that stirs more within me than Kind of Blue ever can.
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.
84/100. A smooth jazz album with a bit of inconsistency—some tracks definitely stand out more than others. Nonetheless, it’s a great jazz record and an enjoyable listen overall.
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?
chill, smooth jazz, instrumental piano
This is a nice jazz album right here. I don't really have a ton to say. I like jazz, so I like this album. It's kind of interesting that this isn't actually my first jazz album to come from South Africa, considering I got Hugh Masekela's "Home Is Where The Music Is" back in September 2024. That album's good, and so is this one. I like it. The sound is nice and very pleasant. It's not super complex by jazz standards, but it's still fairly engaging. The pacing is solid. None of the songs go on for too long, not even the nearly 12-minute long title track which, for some reason, isn't on spotify despite the rest of the album being there. Water from an Ancient Well is pretty good. Low 4/5.
ya like jazz
Great album but I had a hard time finding it. It was only available on Spotify
This was delightful. Really enjoyed this one.
Not the sound I was expecting. I would have been interested in that sound too. That's on me.
Good musically but jazz just not my thing
another jazz album, this one really at the roots of traditional instrumental jazz. it's very relaxing to listen to. compared to all the other jazz albums i've heard in the past, this one isn't too avantgarde or experimental, it's just straight up cool and simple jazz musak. if jazz isn't someone's favorite genre and they're looking for something a little less chaotic, i would probably have them listen to this album.
To start, I like jazz. I found this album to be very sloppy. The mix was jarring and unbalanced. I felt tense listening to this, and listening to jazz should be a relaxing and perhaps inspiring experience. The saxes sounded unconfident, which made the listening experience unpleasant. I feel bad for anyone that has this as a first jazz album, as it's not a good introduction to the genre.
2.8 1x usually something I would rate higher but the scratchiness of the recording was offputting
Sounds like a colliery brass band doing covers of obscure TV themes and playground songs. That isn’t a good thing.
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.
ei moitteita
Aika perus jazzia, eipä tästä oo oikein muuta sanottavaa. Etelä-afrikkalainen tyyppi. Ei huonoa. Parhaat: Tuang Guru, The Mountain
Part old school jazz……even heard some hints of Vince Guarldi. Good background music.
Probably good if you like jazz? I really don’t so
Schnödes Bigband, Piano und Jazz Arrangement. Es war nicht inspirierend und eher langweilig bis unangenehm.
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.
# Playlist Track - Mandela # Notes - A surprisingly accessible, fun and warm jazz album. - Had never heard it before, but ended up spending most of my afternoon with it.
++: Mandela, Song for Sathima, Manenberg Revisited (Cape Town Fringe), Tuang Guru, Water from an Ancient Well, The Wedding, The Mountain, Sameeda 9,6/10
Gentle and pleasant. It felt lively and played with emotion, yet still easy listening. Nice to have on in the background
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.
Not bad, but definitely just feels like the interstitial music from The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson.
Sigh. I want to like jazz more than I do. From my musician standpoint, there's a lot of really interesting stuff going on with all the instruments, especially the bass. I like the several different saxophones. But man, it's just so boring to listen to for an entire album.
That was jazz song music. Not for me but not completely horrid
One of the jazz albums of all time
Inventive, tight and joyful jazz album 4.3
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.
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."
Jazz isn’t my favorite genre, but I enjoyed this
This was pleasant enough but nothing special.
There are a few jazz albums I like and then there’s stuff like this that all sounds the same
A pretty good jazz album just nothing stood out
Listened Before? N Meh. I'm sure it's great. Not my cup of tea. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Mandenberg Revisited
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
Forgettable
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.
Yep, it's jazz
1986. Jazz
I felt like I was a buffet, or a funeral home. I completely did not like this album. Only one word came to mind: boring.
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.
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
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
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 the vibe
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
not bad, just not something I would listen to myself.
Enjoyed the percussion, horns and saxophone, lyric free album.
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.
very soothing study music
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.
4/5
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
This made me feel like I was in an elevator not on The Mountain.
Relaxing album. I would listen to this while doing some writing or work
Nice jazz listen, rolled along nicely, I enjoyed it overall.
Loved it.
Loved this. Rainy Sunday morning, egg poaching jazz
very smooth, liked it a lot
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
Something for everyone.
I was excited for this one, but nothing stuck for me.
Very good.
Jazz is as jazz does
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.
Smooth jazz for a specific listening session. I was not in that session today. Another meh for me.
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
Jazzy little bop
What next? Chuck Wagon’s Honkytonk Hoe Down turns out to be Death Metal?
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A lovely listen all around. Excellent drumming from low-key jazz legend Ben Riley
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.
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.
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.
Sounds too old-fashioned for me. From an ancient well, indeed.
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 is some big band jazz, at least 50% held my interest
I hope the musicians had fun making this because I sure as hell didn’t enjoy listening to it
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 sounds like all the other jazz albums.
It was pleasant enough but didn’t blow me away. I imagine if you don’t like jazz it was not so enjoyable
Excellent instrumental. Jazzy and Bluesy. Very cool music.
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!
An enjoyable easy listen. But in terms of jazz that was pretty boring. Giving this a 2 just on the jazz scale, but it is way better than every 2 I have rated.
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.
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
There are so many amazing and interesting jazz albums in the world. This is not one of them.
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
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.
Good listen, lots of interesting instrumentals and arrangements!
En af mine favorit jazz albums vi har haft
Meget behageligt tog-musik, meget chill, måske også lidt basic. Lille 3er
Jazzzzzzz.. Nothing special comes to mind.
Smooth and Cool! Favorite track: Manenberg revisited other picks: mandela, song for sathima, the wedding
5/5
Don’t know enough about jazz to say if this is any good or not. Not really my cup of tea.
Just A ZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Pleasant enough background (lift) music ... but that's about it, for me.
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.
Nice background music but a little boring.
Surprisingly enjoyable for basically easy listening jazz
V peaceful
Subtle African flavours mixed into a relaxing jazz piece that delivers a great soundtrack for every cooking session or a soothing
A beautiful mellow set, perfect for a relaxing evening. Challenging in scope, but soft on the soul.
Jazz, strumentale, calmo.
Perfectly wonderful jazz. Not my thing.
Jazzy jay
一般.jpg
MMMMM yeah this is just what I needed to listen to today. So jazzy so good.
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.
Really liked how this one started. Felt like walking into a speakeasy back in the old days
Absolute banger
Pretty delightful jazz. Nice coming across these albums every once in a while because the surprising lack of good music on this list; almost like a pallet cleanser. I do prefer other styles of jazz but this was good. 7/10
okay
Decent jazz album
Really enjoyed. Perfect vibe for a relaxing Saturday morning.
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.
Very beautiful!
Oooh mama mia, on a très rarement du jazz classique dans ce générateur, alors quand on m’en donne, je déguste
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.
On a day when I needed music that noodled along pleasantly, requiring zero effort on my part that’s exactly what I got.
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
The soundtrack to a low budget daytime tv drama or hallmark film. Jazz, niiiiicccceeeee! 2.3
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.
This hit the spot today, lifted me through the dreary commute in the rain. Feel like this album just had a bit more than other instrumental jazz we've had, it was a bit more cohesive but still with some solos and interesting turns here and there. Or maybe it was very much like the others and I was just in the mood today. Either way, enjoyed it.
I think I must have been in a good mood listening to this - potentially my favourite jazz album from this list (so far). I'm not a fan of free jazz - the first few songs on this album were therefore rather fun to listen to. I liked the recurring motifs, I thought the instruments were played well, there were distinct parts to the tracks, and overall there was a noticeable vibe created. The latter part of the album trails off, but on the strength of the first few tracks (Mandela especially) I'll knock this up to a 4.
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
Great album that I'd never heard of.
Not digging it very much
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
Jolly bit of jazz. Light and not too jazzy.
Brutal
Not really going to leave an impression on me.
This was new, enjoyed it
7.5/10. Really nice and pleasant soft jazz. :)
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
Jazz. No.
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.
Fun album, but not all that unique for the genre
Jazz is really not my genre, and i cant say i really enjoyed this album. I can see how the musicality is appreciated- there were some parts where clarinet and piano had a nice back and forther. However, the time signatures and dischordant nature, while complex, just didnt do it for me. Overall- I can see how this woild be an influential album. But it really wasnt for me
A really unexpected album! I wasn't expecting anything like this My favourite tracks were: - Song for Sathima - The Wedding - The Mountain It's a shame about the transition between Tuang Guru and The Wedding, had to replay that to make sure it wasn't my fault ! Unexpected, but I liked it. 4/5
Cocktail lounge jazz?
Daytime TV theme tunes. Terrible.
I knew nothing of this. I'm now keen to find out more. There's a light and breezy touch. It should be sold as one of those introduction to jazz albums. It dragged a little towards the end.
Ok
Bueno
Abdullah Ibrahim is a jazz pianist from South Africa, whose work is inspired by that of Thelonious Monk. For his birthplace, Ibrahim's work is often classified as "world music," when something akin to "New York City Jazz" would be more appropriate. Water From An Ancient World is a beautiful collection of expressive sounds, from a piano-based jazz band with a talented horn section.
I judged the album by its cover and expected new age boringness. Instead I got a nice, uplifting jazz album reminiscent of the jazz that's played on Charlie Brown cartoons. This was lovely.
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)
It was over before I realized
Jazz. Ni fu ni fa.
Mejor de lo que pensaba. Jazz.
A very enjoyable jazz album. Not 5* because I don't know if I'd go back to it.
This is just a step above elevator muzak for me. This grating album has that weird late-80's / early-90's vibe which reminds me of bad taste and plasticky ugliness in a way I can't really define. This is the music that gets piped into a dead mall. Who would listen to this for pleasure?
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 gem I would not have come across otherwise
Fav: The Mountain Least Fav: Sameeda
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
Not available in the US on Apple Music. I found the specific track on an album called “3” and am rating based on that. It’s beautiful.
Mejor de lo que pensaba. Jazz.
Beautiful jazz album. On repeat. 5/5
I really really enjoyed this. I always dig a good jazz album. Throw it on in the background and let it take you on a ride.
It’s so hard to rate these kinds of albums compared to a pop album or an album of bangers. I really liked the first song, but it mushed together afterwards.
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.
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
Not available on Apple Music for some reason. Listened on YouTube. I was expecting some more middle eastern sounding for some reason, though I don't know what middle eastern jazz would sound like. This was nice and enjoyable. I'd put it on again.
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
Nice, easygoing jazz album.
5 years ago, I would've hated this. 3.4*
Such background music, I’m not sure I even really heard it. So I’ll give it two stars because it obviously wasn’t hugely offensive.
Had I closed my eyes, I could have been listening to this in a bougie boutique, a slow-rising elevator or a dentist's waiting room....I think ...and that's my issue with this album; I'm fairly certain that it happened, but I can't definitely state that it happened.
Solid jazz record, nice tunes and fun soloing
Nope too stogy
Really solild album for just relaxing. Made me want to lay on the couch with my dog and sip a cocktail while I read.
Pretty chill, I'll listen again.
3.5/5
Enjoyable jazz that is extremely thin and forgotten mere moments after listening. That isn't to say the album is bad, but the whole thing feels like it is meant to be the soundtrack to an old Disney Silly Symphony. Y'know, the things that Disney used to sync their animations with? The music is okay enough, but it just feels like jazz music purely meant to elicit relaxed vibes, and nothing more. A soundtrack to an Olive Garden, perhaps? Or something more spicy, like the Old Spaghetti Factory? Either way, the music is sound, it's fine, but would you catch me listening to it in my free time? Hell no. The instrumentation is fine, the variation is fine, the improvisation is fine, it is all FINE. But there has to be better jazz coming out of the mid-80s, yes?
Nice, pleasant jazz. Arrived in Stevensville today for 4th of July week. Ancient Well made for good listening while running a few laps around Churchill Farms. Windy day, swells breaking on Lake Michigan shore.
On par with most other jazz from this list, so it’s good enough for at least 4 stars, although it wouldn’t be my first choice when listening to jazz.
it was fine. Nice jazz to listen to. Will never listen to this again...but enjoyable while I listened.
Thoroughly enjoyed this one. Great listening.
Smooth af
Nice one
Perfectly pleasant, but not really my thing. 2*
Album 445 of 1001 Abdullah Ibrahim - Water From An Ancient Well Rating : 4 / 5 Some wonderful, smooth, swinging jazz. Was an awesome listen. Quite pleasant.
Amazing jazz record that I would have never heard of if not for this list.
Extremely pleasant jazz record. It’s almost too pleasant, as I never get a sense of who Abdullah Ibrahim actually is - it simply lacks some character to be another perfect jazz addition on this list.
Not my favorite
Some songs were good, i kinda liked it
Rating: 8/10 Very chill jazz album, extremely meditative and easy to listen to.
Jazz with a world music infusion.
Jazz africano. Tranquilito y bonito. No digo que no haya que escucharlo, pero no lo veo trascendente. Me gustó bastante The Mountain.
Nice Mingus vibes at some points, and I could hear the South African feel too
Not too long or complex. Making it an incredibly easy listen, yet still packed with interesting bits. Another jazz album I enjoyed.
I think this was mostly instrumental and was nice but didn't stand out to me much. Kinda felt like elevator music
I don't know much about Jazz music, and the write up didn't exactly sing it's praises, but I enjoyed this a lot. Not something I would listen to regularly but when the mood is right I can see myself revisiting this.
Jazz album from the mid 1980s by South African jazz musician Abdullah Ibrahim (who lived in exile in the US while this album was released). I don't know much about jazz but this is a nice album, very smooth sounding, definitely a good choice for a Sunday afternoon. However not sure I'll listen to it again, as there wasn't anything that stood out here.
Eh, an average Jazz album, totally fine for some background music, but nothing to write home about in my opinion. Not too sure why it's included in this list. Best: Mandela Worst: Sameeda Note: Spotify didn't have the rights to the title track so I listened on YT Music.
Really good, unique (to my ears) jazz. There were a few moments that had me pretty well enchanted by it. It surprisingly starts out pretty boppy, but it covers a lot of ground throughout with some ethereal moments and very melodic, almost lyrical moments sprinkled throughout. It’s one of those albums I’ve discovered through this project that could become all time favorites with more listens, I hope to keep this on a semi-frequent rotation.
This is clearly one of the better jazz albums that we've had in this list so far. It's still something that I would not normally listen to, so rating a jazz album is tough for me.
Smooth and palatable but it got a little too noisy for my preference. The album cover tricked me into thinking ambient but it’s straight up jazz.
Well, the album was not available on Apple Music in the US, so could not listen to but one song that was found online. If an album is not available then how great can it really be. The one song that I heard was nice, so going with middle of the road rating.
Good but not great. Maybe if I understood jazz better I would appreciate this more but I don't and I found it kinda boring compared to a lot of the other jazz on this list. Pretty soothing background music though.
not available on streaming service in US. was able to find title track & listen to it. nice enough background dinner music
This album wasn’t available on my streaming services in the US. I was able to listen to 4 tracks off of YouTube. It’s jazz and I don’t have much of an appreciation of jazz.
Excellent jazz, but unsure if I really heard the real album or not. Not available on Apple Music and had to listen on youtube and it was a playlist so not sure if I even heard the right thing.
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.
I listen to jazz most days, all day, so when a jazz record comes along on this list, I always struggle to listen intently because it's very easy to let this music just slip away into the background while I'm working. But this one was new for me, and I absolutely loved it, especially Ricky Ford's howling sax throughout. I would encourage you to check out the context behind this, even if the album itself isn't exactly your flavor.
This meditative unearthing of ancestral waters culminates in tastes and sounds as ruminative as they are refreshing.
This is a perfectly pleasant jazz album, though not one that necessarily pushes the boundaries. That's not all bad, however, as sometimes jazz can get a bit full of itself, so this is a welcome 'simple' jazz album that one could throw on whenever.
I tend to roll my eyes when I get anything in the jazz realm but shame on me today. I had no idea how much I would enjoy this. Probably a bit elevator-y at times but the musicality really grabbed me, it's got some brilliant moments and overall a good upbeat vibe. A pleasant surprise.
Unexpected
Pretty dull, incredibly light, elevator music jazz. It was pleasant enough to have on in the background and I even searched out the title track as Spotify didn't include it.
fun fun fun
I wasn´t expecting an album this traditional when I saw that it was an african jazz album from 86. It´s just... jazz. It could have been recorded in 1946 by the it sounds. It´s not a bad album. It´s just very conventional.
A pleasant listen and a well made collection of songs, although maybe not necessarily something I needed to hear before I shuffle off. I can't help but wonder if this didn't already sound a bit dated when it came out in '86. It really sounds like something out of time. A bit of a swing vibe that's most successful where it's upbeat. Fave Songs: Mandela, Tuang Guru, Mannenberg Revisited (Cape Town Fringe)
Chill music makes for a nice commute. I'll look into more of his music & compositions.