Brian McKnight & Abdullah Ibrahim

Presented By: Erynne Zavala

Cape Town South AfricaDemographics

Land mass: 2,499 sq. kilometersPopulation: 2,893,251 and a population density of 1,158 people per

sq km (2,999 per sq mileReligion: main religion is Christianity, practiced by almost 80% of

residents. Approximately 10% are Muslim, with less than 1% each Jewish and Hindu.

Is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the worldEthnicities: Black Africans, Nguni and Sotho groups account for 90%

of the Black population. Black population accounts 75% of the South Africa's entire population. Whites account for about 13%. Indians account for around 3 % . Mixed White and Black descent and account for 9% of the population.

Instrument!

Because you’ve probably never seen one before…

Abdullah IbrahimBorn in Cape Town South Africa

Recalls traditional African music, religious music, and jazz

Received first piano lesson in 1941, became a professional musician in 1949

Member of the Tuxedo Slickers and Willie Max Big Band

Met Kippi Moeketski , devoted his life to music

Married African jazz singer Samitha Bea Benjamin

Very proud of African roots, believes music is healing and has the power to transform

Led the Duke Ellington Orchestra

Toured the world, upon returning to South Africa could not deal with the oppression

"We played a lot of boogie woogie back then. It had structure very similar to our native songs. We never regarded the music as foreign; it was just the music of our brothers and sisters in another part of the world. And in our corner there were great piano players: they didn't play Jazz however; they played tradition...pure African Tradition."

Biography Continued

"Kippi's life was not wasted! How could it be when it was Kippi who gave us everything we know? We have just built on from what he has taught us."

Influenced Keith Jarrot and George Winston’ s work

Dollar Brand

Dealt with oppression and Apartheid

In 1965 played solo concert at Carnegie Hall

“African Space Program” in New York

“For Coltrane”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjZLnWl8RTE&feature=related

To John Coltrane from Ibrahim

Melody: no set melodyMedium: PIANOMeter: no set time signatureForm: gradually increases in tempo and

volumeStyle: jazz, traditional African influences,

improvinisation usedContext: written for John Coltrane

Brian McKnight

"The sentiments must be real, the melodies must be magic. I want to create moods everyone can feel. Records don't need to be perfect, but they do need character."

"The music I write and the songs I sing must first move me"

Signed a recording contract at the age of 19

Very Religious

Vocal style influenced by Stevie Wonder

Attended Oakwood College

Worked with many mainstream artists

Known for his “stirring” pieces of music

Loved church music but Jazz stimulated his mind

Expelled from College

Biography Continued

“Jazz is all about improvisation and it's about the moment in time, doing it this way now, and you'll never do it this way twice. I've studied the masters. Why would I want to play ball after the guys who sit on a bench? I want to play like Michael Jordan.”

First single was “One Last Cry”

Nominated for four Grammies

Received NAACP Image Award

Released seven albums

“Still In Love”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=NH1NGp6AJFg&feature=endscreen

My husband WILL sing this to me one day <33333

Melody: VocalsMedium: Piano and vocalsHarmony: Provided by the pianoMeter: Rubato for the most part when

played liveForm: ABA with improvinization Style: smooth jazz, R&BContext: He’s “still in love” with a girl

“For Coltrane” & “Still In Love”

Similarities Both use a piano Influenced by love for musicJazz influenceNo set time signatureUse of ImprovinizationBoth pieces were written to

“say” something

DifferencesUse of vocals and piano

opposed to the use of just the piano

African Influence/R&B, Pop influence

Ibrahim music considered more religious

Works Cited

• http://www.abdullahibrahim.com/htmls/features/biography.html

• http://www.jyu.fi/viesti/verkkotuotanto/kp/sa/peop_ethnicgrps.shtml

• http://countrystudies.us/south-africa/11.htm• http://www.answers.com/topic/brian-mcknig

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