Ahmad Jamal
Encyclopedia
Ahmad Jamal is an innovative and influential American
jazz
pianist
, composer, and educator. According to Stanley Crouch
, Jamal is second in importance in the development of jazz after 1945 only to Charlie Parker
. For five decades, he has been one of the most successful small-group leaders in jazz.
Since the 1980s Jamal has been regularly touring the major clubs of the United States and the large European jazz festivals. He is generally accompanied by bassist James Cammack
and drummer Idris Muhammad
. He has also performed regularly with saxophonist George Coleman
.
, Pennsylvania
, and attended George Westinghouse High School. He began playing piano at the age of three, when his uncle Lawrence challenged him to duplicate what he was playing on the piano. Jamal began formal piano training at the age of seven with Mary Cardwell Dawson
, whom he describes as greatly influencing him. He converted to Ahmadiyya Islam in 1952.
Jamal began touring with George Hudson's Orchestra. He joined another touring group known as The Four Strings, which was soon disbanded. He moved to Chicago
in 1950, and made his first sides in 1951 for the Okeh
label with The Three Strings: the other members were guitarist Ray Crawford and a bassist (at different times, Eddie Calhoun
, Richard Davis, and Israel Crosby
). Jamal subsequently recorded for Parrot
(1953–1955) and Epic
(1955) using the piano-guitar-bass lineup. The trio's sound changed significantly when Crawford was replaced with drummer Vernel Fournier
in 1957, and the group worked as the "House Trio" at Chicago's
Pershing Hotel. The trio released the live album But Not for Me which stayed on the Ten Best-selling charts for 108 weeks. Jamal's well known song "Poinciana
" was first released on this album. The financial success of the album allowed Jamal to open a restaurant and club called The Alhambra.
Jamal typically plays with a bassist and drummer; his current trio is with bassist James Cammack and drummer Idris Muhammad. He has also performed with percussionist Manolo Badrena
. Jamal has recorded with saxophonist George Coleman
on the album The Essence; with vibraphonist Gary Burton
on "In Concert"; with the voices of the Howard A. Roberts Chorale on "Bright, Blue and Beautiful" and "Cry Young"; with brass, reeds, and strings celebrating his hometown of "Pittsburgh"; and with "The Assai Quartet".
featured two recordings from Jamal's But Not For Me album — "Music, Music, Music" and "Poinciana" — in the 1995 movie The Bridges of Madison County
.
The French government has inducted Ahmad Jamal into the prestigious Order of the Arts and Letters by French Culture Minister Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres, naming him Officier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres on June 2007.
In 1994, Jamal received the National Endowment for the Arts
American Jazz Masters award and was also named a Duke Ellington Fellow at Yale University
.
/Cadet Records
Impulse! Records
Later period
As sideman
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, composer, and educator. According to Stanley Crouch
Stanley Crouch
Stanley Crouch is an American music and cultural critic, syndicated columnist, and novelist, perhaps best known for his jazz criticism, and his novel Don't the Moon Look Lonesome?- Biography :...
, Jamal is second in importance in the development of jazz after 1945 only to Charlie Parker
Charlie Parker
Charles Parker, Jr. , famously called Bird or Yardbird, was an American jazz saxophonist and composer....
. For five decades, he has been one of the most successful small-group leaders in jazz.
Since the 1980s Jamal has been regularly touring the major clubs of the United States and the large European jazz festivals. He is generally accompanied by bassist James Cammack
James Cammack
James Alfred Conrad Cammack Jr. is an African American bassist, from the region of Cornwall, NY.He is the bassist for the Ahmad Jamal Trio, which includes the founder, Ahmad Jamal and drummer, Idris Muhammad. Cammack both records and tours with the trio...
and drummer Idris Muhammad
Idris Muhammad
Idris Muhammad is a jazz drummer. He changed his name in the 1960s upon his conversion to Islam. He is known for his funky playing style. He has released a number of albums as leader, and has played with a number of jazz legends including Lou Donaldson, Johnny Griffin, Pharoah Sanders and Grover...
. He has also performed regularly with saxophonist George Coleman
George Coleman
George Edward Coleman is an American hard bop saxophonist, bandleader, and composer, known chiefly for his work with Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock in the 1960s.-Biography:...
.
Biography
Jamal was born in PittsburghPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, and attended George Westinghouse High School. He began playing piano at the age of three, when his uncle Lawrence challenged him to duplicate what he was playing on the piano. Jamal began formal piano training at the age of seven with Mary Cardwell Dawson
Mary Cardwell Dawson
Mary Cardwell Dawson was an African-American musician and teacher and the founding director of the National Negro Opera Company....
, whom he describes as greatly influencing him. He converted to Ahmadiyya Islam in 1952.
Jamal began touring with George Hudson's Orchestra. He joined another touring group known as The Four Strings, which was soon disbanded. He moved to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
in 1950, and made his first sides in 1951 for the Okeh
Okeh Records
Okeh Records began as an independent record label based in the United States of America in 1918. From 1926 on, it was a subsidiary of Columbia Records.-History:...
label with The Three Strings: the other members were guitarist Ray Crawford and a bassist (at different times, Eddie Calhoun
Eddie Calhoun
Eddie Calhoun was an American jazz double-bassist.Calhoun was raised in Chicago, where he played with Dick Davis and Ahmad Jamal . Subsequently he worked with Horace Henderson , Johnny Griffin , Roy Eldridge, Billie Holiday, and Miles Davis...
, Richard Davis, and Israel Crosby
Israel Crosby
Israel Crosby was an African-American jazz double-bassist born in Chicago, Illinois, best known as member of the Ahmad Jamal trio from 1957-1962...
). Jamal subsequently recorded for Parrot
Parrot Records (blues label)
Parrot Records was a Chicago-based label founded in 1952 by disc jockey Al Benson. It specialized in blues, jazz, doo-wop, and gospel. The company began operating in earnest in the summer of 1953, and lasted till the middle of 1956. Several Parrot recordings were later released by Chess...
(1953–1955) and Epic
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
(1955) using the piano-guitar-bass lineup. The trio's sound changed significantly when Crawford was replaced with drummer Vernel Fournier
Vernel fournier
Vernel Anthony Fournier and, from 1975, known as Amir Rushdan, was a jazz drummer probably best known for his work with Ahmad Jamal from 1956 to 1962....
in 1957, and the group worked as the "House Trio" at Chicago's
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
Pershing Hotel. The trio released the live album But Not for Me which stayed on the Ten Best-selling charts for 108 weeks. Jamal's well known song "Poinciana
Poinciana (album)
Poinciana is an album by jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal, recorded while live on tour from The Pershing Hotel's nightclub in Chicago.-Track listing:...
" was first released on this album. The financial success of the album allowed Jamal to open a restaurant and club called The Alhambra.
Jamal typically plays with a bassist and drummer; his current trio is with bassist James Cammack and drummer Idris Muhammad. He has also performed with percussionist Manolo Badrena
Manolo Badrena
Manolo Badrena is a percussionist most noted for his work with Weather Report from 1976 to 1977. He has made contributions to over 100 recordings that span jazz, world music, pop, and Latin music...
. Jamal has recorded with saxophonist George Coleman
George Coleman
George Edward Coleman is an American hard bop saxophonist, bandleader, and composer, known chiefly for his work with Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock in the 1960s.-Biography:...
on the album The Essence; with vibraphonist Gary Burton
Gary Burton
Gary Burton is an American jazz vibraphonist.A true original on the vibraphone, Burton developed a pianistic style of four-mallet technique as an alternative to the usual two-mallets. This approach caused Burton to be heralded as an innovator and his sound and technique are widely imitated...
on "In Concert"; with the voices of the Howard A. Roberts Chorale on "Bright, Blue and Beautiful" and "Cry Young"; with brass, reeds, and strings celebrating his hometown of "Pittsburgh"; and with "The Assai Quartet".
Acclaim
Clint EastwoodClint Eastwood
Clinton "Clint" Eastwood, Jr. is an American film actor, director, producer, composer and politician. Eastwood first came to prominence as a supporting cast member in the TV series Rawhide...
featured two recordings from Jamal's But Not For Me album — "Music, Music, Music" and "Poinciana" — in the 1995 movie The Bridges of Madison County
The Bridges of Madison County (film)
The Bridges of Madison County is a 1995 American romantic drama film based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Robert James Waller. It was produced by Amblin Entertainment and Malpaso Productions, and distributed by Warner Bros. Entertainment...
.
The French government has inducted Ahmad Jamal into the prestigious Order of the Arts and Letters by French Culture Minister Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres, naming him Officier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres on June 2007.
In 1994, Jamal received the National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created by an act of the U.S. Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. Its current...
American Jazz Masters award and was also named a Duke Ellington Fellow at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
.
Discography
Argo RecordsArgo Records
Argo Records was started in December of 1955 to accommodate some of the rapidly growing recording activity at Chess Records. Originally the label was called Marterry, but bandleader Ralph Marterie objected, and within a couple of months the imprint was renamed Argo.Initially, Argo offered a...
/Cadet Records
Cadet Records
Cadet Records was started as Argo Records in 1955 as the jazz subsidiary of Chess Records. Argo changed its name in 1965 to Cadet to avoid confusion with the similarly named label in the UK...
- Ahmad's Blues (1951, 1955)
- Chamber Music of the New Jazz (1955)
- Count 'Em 88-The Ahmad Jamal Trio (1956) Argo
- At the Pershing: But Not for MeAt the Pershing: But Not for MeAt the Pershing: But Not for Me is a 1958 jazz album by pianist Ahmad Jamal. According to the album jacket, the tapes were made on January 16, 1958, at the Pershing Lounge of Chicago's Pershing Hotel and each set played that night was recorded, a total of 43 tracks, of which 8 were selected by...
(1958) - Live at The Pershing & The Spotlight Club (1958)
- Jamal at the Penthouse (1959)
- Happy Moods (1960) Argo
- All of You (1961, Argo, with Israel CrosbyIsrael CrosbyIsrael Crosby was an African-American jazz double-bassist born in Chicago, Illinois, best known as member of the Ahmad Jamal trio from 1957-1962...
, Vernel FournierVernel fournierVernel Anthony Fournier and, from 1975, known as Amir Rushdan, was a jazz drummer probably best known for his work with Ahmad Jamal from 1956 to 1962....
) - Alhambra (1961, Argo, with Crosby, Fournier)
- Cross Country Tour 1958-1961 (1962)
- PoincianaPoinciana (album)Poinciana is an album by jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal, recorded while live on tour from The Pershing Hotel's nightclub in Chicago.-Track listing:...
(1963) - Extensions (1965)
- Heat Wave (1966)
- Standard Eyes (1967)
- The Bright, The Blue and The Beautiful (1968)
Impulse! Records
Impulse! Records
Impulse! Records was an American jazz record label, originally established in 1960 by producer Creed Taylor as a subsidiary of ABC-Paramount Records, based in New York City...
- 1968: Tranquility
- 1970: The AwakeningThe Awakening (Ahmad Jamal album)The Awakening is an album by American jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal featuring performances recorded in 1970 for the Impulse! label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 4 stars stating "By 1970, pianist Ahmad Jamal's style had changed a bit since the 1950s, becoming denser and...
- 1971: FreeflightFreeflight (album)Freeflight is a live album by American jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal featuring performances recorded at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1971 for the Impulse! label...
- 1972: OutertimeinnerspaceOutertimeinnerspaceOutertimeinnerspace is a live album by American jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal featuring performances recorded at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1971 for the Impulse! label...
- 1972: At The Top - Poinciana Revisited
Later period
- Ahmad Jamal '73 (1973)
- Jamalca (1974)
- Jamal Plays Jamal (1974)
- Steppin Out with a Dream (1976)
- One (1978)
- Genetic Walk (1980)
- Night Song (1980)
- Live at Bubba's (1980)
- Ahmad Jamal & Gary Burton In Concert (1981)
- Digital Works (1985)
- Live at The Montreal Jazz Festival (1985)
- Rossiter Road (1986)
- Crystal (1987)
- Pittsburgh 1989 (1989)
- Live in Paris 1992 (1993)
- Chicago Revisited - Live at Joe Segal's Jazz Showcase (1993)
- I Remember Duke, Hoagy & Strayhorn (1995)
- The Essence Part 1 (1995)
- Big Byrd - The Essence Part 2 (1996)
- Nature - The Essence Part III (1998)
- With The Assai Quartet (1998)
- Picture Perfect (2000)
- Ahmad Jamal à l'Olympia (2001)
- In Search of Momentum (2003)
- After Fajr (2005)
- Legendary Okeh & Epic Recordings (1951–1955) (2005)
- It's Magic (2008)
- Poinciana - One Night Only (2008)
- A Quiet Time (2009)
As sideman
- Shirley HornShirley HornShirley Valerie Horn was an American jazz singer and pianist.-Biography:Encouraged by her grandmother, who was an amateur organist, Horn began piano lessons at the age of four. At twelve, Horn studied piano and composition at Howard University and later majored from there in classical music...
- May the Music Never EndMay the Music Never EndMay the Music Never End is a 2003 studio album by Shirley Horn, it was Horn's last studio album. -Reception:The Allmusic review by Tim Sendra awarded the album four stars and said that "Horn's trademark sound is the sparse, languid torch song, with atmospheric piano chords and her gentle and...
(2003)