Abdullah Ibrahim and Ekaya @ Jazz Standard

Thanks to a generous invitation from a friend I got to hear two sets of Abdullah Ibrahim (with trio) and Ekaya at Jazz Standard. I loved Abdullah from the first sound he made on the piano – what a great musician. Actually this time Ekaya – the 4-piece horn section playing really beautiful arrangements and taking on some nice solos – with lots of traditional jazz and blues cliches revisited – got a big part of the play time.  The music was very listener-friendly and accessible – I’ve noticed that the big and expensive clubs mostly are. But it was all tasteful with a very good vibe going on, the second (third)  set really took off with energy. It was a lot of fun to hear Stafford Hunter, an amazing trombone player,  play seashells – really happening music, everybody loved it. And Cleave Guyton playing both the alto and the flute.

I would have liked to hear more of Abdullah himself  – everything he played was so beautiful, distilled, spacious – a mature musician playing around with silence.