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Music CD Review One of Ellington's timeless ballads, Solitude has been sung by many, but rarely with the simple conviction of Sathima Bea Benjamin here. And it begs the telling of a fascinating story: It was 1963, Zurich. Cape Town expatriates Sathima Bea Benjamin and Abdullah Ibrahim (then known as Dollar Brand) were playing a regular gig. Ellington came to town to perform, and Benjamin asked him to come hear her boyfriend play. Cut to three days later: Benjamin and Ibrahim join Ellington and Strayhorn (at Duke's invitation) at a Paris recording studio. He records the Dollar Brand trio, as well an album's worth of Benjamin vocals, first with Ibrahim on piano, then Strayhorn, then Ellington (Duke plays on this track). Reprise Records, Duke's label at the time, released Duke Ellington Presents the Dollar Brand Trio, but not Benjamin's recording, deeming it "not commercial enough." Finally, 34 years later, Sathima Bea Benjamin: A Morning in Paris was released by Enja.--- JAZZIZ Magazine Copyright © 2000, Milor Entertainment, Inc. -- From Jazziz
