Dollar Brand

Dollar Brand was the performance moniker of South African jazz pianist Abdullah Ibrahim. The name was used on most of his releases between 1965 and 1981 and also referred, collectively, to his backing ensembles during this time. In the latter sense, musicians such as Barney Rachabane, Basil Coetzee, Cecil McBee, Charles Sullivan, Enrico Rava, John Stubblefield, Johnny Dyani, Sonny Fortune, and various other players on the African, European, and U.S. jazz scenes have notched credits under the nameplate.

An eight-year proliferation of Dollar Brand releases commenced in 1973, during which time Ibrahim became one of the chief purveyors of Cape jazz — an improvised/indigenous variant of the idiom drawn from the pianist’s Cape Town origins. More than 30 releases appeared under the moniker before Ibrahim reverted back to his original name for the 1983 album Zimbabwe.

Discography (see also Abdullah Ibrahim):

• Anatomy of a South African Village (live, 1965 • Dollar Brand Trio)
  
• Duke Ellington Presents the Dollar Brand Trio (1965 • Dollar Brand Trio)
  
• Reflections (1965)
  
• Confluence (1968 • Gato Barbieri – Dollar Brand)
  
• Peace (1971)
  
• +3 with Kippie Moketsi (1972)
  
• African Piano (1973)
  
• African Portraits (1973)
  
• African Space Program (1973)
  
• Sangoma (1973)
  
• This Is Dollar Brand (1973)
  
• Ode to Duke Ellington (1973)
  
• African Sketchbook (1974)
  
• Ancient Africa (1974)
  
• Good News From Africa (1974 • Dollar Brand Duo)
  
• Mannenberg – “Is Where It’s Happening” (1974)
  
• Underground in Africa (1974)
  
• African Herbs (1975)
  
• African Songbird (1976 • Bea Benjamin With Dollar Brand)
  
• Black Lightning (1976)
  
• The Children of Africa (1976)
  
• Blues for a Hip King (1976)
  
• Cape Town Fringe (1977)
  
• Natural Rhythm (1977)
  
• Duet (1978 • Archie Shepp & Dollar Brand)
  
• Streams of Consciousness (1978 • Max Roach & Dollar Brand)
  
• The Journey (1978)
  
• Africa: Tears and Laughter (1979 • Dollar Brand Quartet)
  
• Echoes From Africa (1979 • Dollar Brand & Johnny Dyani)
  
• Plays Sphere Jazz (1979 • Dollar Brand (Abdullah Ibrahim)
  
• African Marketplace (1980 • Dollar Brand)
  
• Duke’s Memories (1981 • Abdullah Ibrahim / Dollar Brand)