The South African pianist Abdullah Ibrahim’s Solo Concert, recorded in his new homeland of Bavaria. The resultant CD “Dream Time” choreographs this subtly stirring recital as a timelessly beautiful self portrait of the artist. Calm, yet exuding a gripping power. In prelude, soft tones gently reveal the initial melodic content. Motifs emerge in echo, making way for a complete melodic statement refined through minute, unexpected details. The gathering stream flows directly into a single, liberating chord. A second melody follows suit, at once melancholic, morphing to bright lyricism, also settling on an open chord. Yet not an end, but a transition...Abdullah Ibrahim is a master of transition. Born October 9th, 1934 in Cape Town, South Africa-the iconic pianist soon celebrates 85 years on the planet. A pianist, whom at 85 continues to exhibit a long winded perseverance in performance. In the course of an hour’s time, an uninterrupted flow of melody-tonal beauty of a strong spiritual nature. This music towers far above the mere sum of it’s notes. Listening to the man in concert is like eavesdropping on his life story. Threads are laid out, some to be revisited, others not...as quietly, almost unconsciously, the lattice entwines the audience, revealing fascinating moments of a life well lived. Moments unhurried, flowing slow and steady-sometimes stopping time itself. Such a modus operandi allows for an uncommon intimacy and a veritable archaic freedom from the hecticism of our times.Those who might immerse themselves in Abdullah Ibrahim’s music, will encounter an unfiltered tenderness of immense rarity. -1- This recording took place in March, 2019- a Sunday afternoon, in the spacious performance hall of the Hirzinger Restaurant in the quaint Bavarian hamlet of Sollhuben. This venue, in the Chiemgau region, has become Abdullah Ibrahim’s preferred concert stage-as the Chiemgau has also become a new home for him and his partner. The room, it’s ceiling revealing exposed wooden beams, exudes a mix of secrecy and welcome which has proved simpatico for the pianist. Accordingly, the late afternoon’s hour long musical narrative enjoys a certain organic congeniality. The music struts forward without pause-is this a medley? A mix of many themes would be, in any other hands, exactly that. In Abdullah Ibrahim’s case, this description might adhere in a technical sense, yet completely misses the essence of his offering. A medley, in it’s true form, seeks to satisfy diverse requests- squeezing in as many familiar melodies as possible, so as not to disappoint the mass audience. In this artist’s case, his melodies will not function as “ ear candy”, rather as pieces of a unique musical identity. They won’t melt in your mouth, instead gently slipping under your skin, destined to remain.These numerous, meticulously intimate melodic threads,charting nearly seven decades of professional endeavor, won’t satisfy as a quick-fix- their full effect only gradually spun. Here, the...