Sathima Bea Benjamin - Memories and Dreams (1986)

Although Sathima Bea Benjamin had sung with her husband Abdullah Ibrahim (then known as Dollar Brand) before they left South Africa in the early '60s and had recorded with Duke Ellington on a set shortly after settling in Europe (a date not released until 1997), she did not make her first recording as a leader until 1976, when she was already nearing 40. Finally, in 1979, Benjamin began to record regularly for the Ekapa label (which was made available domestically through the now-defunct Blackhawk record company). This fine LP features the singer performing three of her moody originals (as the "Liberation Suite"), along with emotional versions of four standard ballads, including "Till There Was You" and "In a Sentimental Mood." With pianist Onaje Allan Gumbs, bassist Buster Williams, either Billy Higgins or Ben Riley on drums and altoist Carlos Ward (doubling on flute), Benjamin has strong support for an excellent all-round set of lyrical music.