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Ahmad Jamal

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Ahmad Jamal (born Frederick Russell Jones on July 2, 1930) is a highly-regarded American jazz pianist from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He began using the name ‘Ahmad Jamal’ after his conversion to Islam in the early 1950s.

Jamal was one of Miles Davis’s favorite pianists and was a key influence on the trumpeter’s “First Great Quintet” (featuring John Coltrane on tenor saxophone, Red Garland on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums). Davis had long admired Jamal’s use of space and dynamics.

Keith Jarrett, Jack DeJohnette, and Gary Peacock all cite Jamal as a major influence in use of rhythm and space as well as his innovative use of multi-tonal melodic lines. The element of surprise is an important part of Jamal’s improvisations to them all. See Keith Jarrett’s DVD “The Art Of Improvisation” which has extensive interviews with Jarrett, DeJohnette, and Peacock.

“Ahmad Jamal at the Pershing: But Not for Me” is considered a jazz classic. The Ahmad Jamal trio played on it and featured Jamal on piano, Israel Crosby on bass, and Vernell Fournier on drums.

Jamal scored a major hit in his version of Poinciana, recorded while live on tour from The Pershing nightclub in Chicago. His style has changed steadily over time - from the lighter, breezy style heard on his 1950s sides to the funk + Caribbean stylings of the 1970s and onto the large open voicings and bravura-laden playing of the nineties. Jamal has always been distinctive however for his use of space, his dramatic crescendos, and for a very staccato orientation with chords.

Tagged as:

jazz, piano, jazz piano, hard bop, ahmad jamal
See more…

1	Poinciana full track	397
2	Autumn Leaves full track	253
3	Surrey With the Fringe on Top full track	213
4	A Gal In Calico full track	158
5	I Get a Kick Out of You full track	151
6	Ahmad's Blues full track	144
7	A Foggy Day full track	118
8	Spring Is Here full track	95
9	Moonlight in Vermont full track	80
10	The Surrey With the Fringe on Top full track	69
11	No Greater Love full track	60
12	Old Devil Moon full track	56
12	Billy Boy full track	56
14	Pavanne full track	52
15	Misty full track	51

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ethanethan wrote:
Friday afternoon

dad?

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st0mpr wrote:
11 days ago

Electric Jamal sure is some dope stuff!

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CaseQuarter wrote:
December 2008

One of my favorites! Smooth!

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loudyloudy wrote:
November 2008

something special!

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rebel_soul_1 wrote:
October 2008

ever heard his M*A*S*H* theme? that's what got me hooked

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jakeandlola wrote:
October 2008

I've underrated Ahmad for quite some time. A pleasure to listen to.

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[deleted-user] wrote:
September 2008

Ghetto Child > all.
crshelton98 wrote:
August 2008

I'd love to find his Live from Toronto album on cd - or vinyl

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fergalmc wrote:
June 2008

His incredible runs towards the end of wave off Awakening

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aughtstar wrote:
April 2008

The Poinciana album is just the best. Everything about it.

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jimragan1967 wrote:
April 2008

His version of Poinciana is just beautiful and a classic. Definitely a great listen!!

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goldcode wrote:
April 2008

Loved what Dj Premier did with the intro of Jamal's cover of Misdemeanor on Gangstaar's Soliloquy of Chaos

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Lis880 wrote:
February 2008

If youre familiar with nujabes you'll hear that he used ahmads spartacus love theme in the song eclipse

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[deleted-user] wrote:
January 2008

The Awakening
Electrocution wrote:
January 2008

so good

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sektah wrote:
January 2008

Jamal's rendering of Poinciana from the album But Not For Me is the closest I have ever been to musical orgasm...pure, understated perfection.

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lookingup wrote:
November 2007

Nobody is listenning to the beautiful Dolpin Dance (from the awakening) :(((

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Guy_Friday wrote:
October 2007

<3

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pablors_7 wrote:
October 2007

jamaica.

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ilovemeott wrote:
August 2007

wow.

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See all 28 shouts

Events

Feb 7 Триумф Джаза Московский международный дом музыки, Москва, Moscow, Russian Federation
1 shout | 16 attendees
Mar 21 Ahmad Jamal Auditorium, Lyon, France
Add shout | 3 attendees