Born in Capetown in 1934, Abdullah remembers hearing traditional African songs, religious music and jazz as a child, all of which are reflected in his music. Originally named Adolphe Brand, the youngster gained the nickname "Dollar" because he always seemed to be carrying dollars to buy the latest jazz albums from visiting American sailors.

In 1959 he helped form the Jazz Epistles which with Hugh Masekela on trumpet and altoist Kipple Moeketsi, soon became the top jazz group in South Africa. However in 1963, shortly after marrying singer Sathima Bea Benjamin, the pianist and his wife left their native country due to the worsening political situation. Setting in Switzerland, Ibrahim's trio was appearing in Zurich when Duke Elligton's orchestra came through town. "My wife met Duke and brought him to the club where we were playing". Ellington was so impressed with the pianist that he sponsored Ibrahim's first American album (a reprise Lp titled Duke Ellington Presents the Dollar Brand Trio) and his appearance at the 1965 Newport Jazz Festival. "I played in a trio with bassist Gene Taylor and drummer Joe Chambers. The whole thing was an overwhelming experience and it was so valuable being that close to Ellington; I learned so much." Also overwhelming was getting the opportunity to actually fill in for Duke when Ellington had to be on the West Coast to write music for a film score while his band toured in the East. "I did five dates substituting for him. It was exciting but very scare, I could barely play."

Other than six months with the Elvin Jones quartet, Abdullah Ibrahim (who changed his name after his conversion to Islam in the late 1960s) has been a bandleader ever since, with his piano heard in many settings ranging from solo concerts to a big band, but most frequently with Ekaya (which means "home"). A world traveler since 1962, Ibrahim went back to South Africa in the mid-1970s but found conditions so oppressive that he has lived in New York since 1976. Among this more recent accomplishments was writing the award-winning soundtrack for the film "Chocolat", which is available on his Enja release Mindif. An eloquent spokeman and deeply religious, Abdullah Ibrahim's beliefs and experiences are reflected in his music, yet there are no signs of bitterness or defeatism; instead it is full of joy and optimism tempered by realism. "The recent changes in South Africa are of course very welcome, it has been so long in coming. We would like to see the total dismantling of apartheid and the adoption of a democratic nonracist society; it seems to be on the way." As for the music Ibrahim says simply "We hope that it will bring some happiness."