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Jazz Articles about Ahmad Jamal

6
Album Review

Ahmad Jamal: Live in Paris (1971)

Read "Live in Paris (1971)" reviewed by Joshua Weiner


The pianist Ahmad Jamal, who passed away in 2023 at the age of 92, needs no introduction. Suffice it to say that this NEA Jazz Master and Lifetime Grammy Award recipient was one of the most popular pianists, small group leaders and hit recording artists of his time. One might be forgiven for thinking everything was known about Jamal, given his extensive discography. Happily, however, Transversales Disques continues its excellent series of “Lost ORTF Recordings" with this release, recorded live ...

9
Album Review

Ahmad Jamal: Emerald City Nights: Live at The Penthouse, 1966-1968

Read "Emerald City Nights: Live at The Penthouse, 1966-1968" reviewed by Mike Jurkovic


It was a time of warring nations, either within themselves or without. John Coltrane had fallen as Miles Davis was firing up the jazz/funk. It was a time of young men screaming, their bodies on fire. Black and white images of villages savaged and children starving. Into these unrivaled moments--they had just taken down a holy man in Memphis a month before--Ahmad Jamal, his uncluttered allegiance to cool, underscored syncopation, and profound ease and understanding of Erroll Garner's ...

7
The Revolution Will NOT Be Televised

The Best of Times, the Worst of Times

Read "The Best of Times, the Worst of Times" reviewed by William H. Snyder


Introduction“April is the cruelest month... “ so begins The Burial of the Dead section of T. S. Eliot's 100-year-old poem. “The Waste Land" laments the decline of culture in the world after World War I. In April of 2023, we lost Harry Belafonte and Ahmad Jamal. The loss of these two men is part of contemporary culture's decline. Burying the dead is a theme in “The Waste Land," but rebirth is also present. Great human spirits need to be kept ...

1
Radio & Podcasts

What in the Bag?

Read "What in the Bag?" reviewed by Patrick Burnette


Welcome to “What's in the Bag?," where Pat pulls out a few vinyl discoveries--some reissues, some crate finds--for Mike and him to dissect. It's kind of a continuing feature on the show when we run out of other things to discuss, and is not to be confused with “What's in the Box?" where the contents are always Gwyneth Paltrow's head and a scratched copy of Duke Ellington's Greatest Hits. Our selections include a recent RSD release of live Ahmad Jamal, ...

2
Radio & Podcasts

Vijay Iyer, Cal Tjader, Ella Fitzgerald & Ahmad Jamal

Read "Vijay Iyer, Cal Tjader, Ella Fitzgerald & Ahmad Jamal" reviewed by Joe Dimino


We begin the 802nd episode of Neon Jazz honoring the late Ahmad Jamal with his trio live in Chicago. From there, we explore new music from Richard X Bennett & Matt Parker, The Joi Jazz Orchestra and Dean Mucetti. We also spin music from Ukraine-based Carlo Muscat who collaborated with Tony Tixier. Finally, we profile musician / storytellers Ernest Stuart, Dewayne Pate and Nick Phillips. Dig the jazz, my friends. Playlist Ahmad Jamal Trio “Darn that Dream" Chamber ...

3
Radio & Podcasts

Ahmad Jamal, King Pleasure, Enrique Villegas, Shirley Scott And More

Read "Ahmad Jamal, King Pleasure, Enrique Villegas, Shirley Scott And More" reviewed by David Brown


Join us for another week of the Jazz Continuum. Old, new, in, out, where ever the music takes us. Each week we explore the elements of jazz form a historical perspective. This week we take a look at “Moody's Mood for Love," remember Ahmad Jamal, check out a new archival release form Shirley Scott, judge a Enrique Villegas record by its cover, and more. Thelonious Monk “Esistrophy (Theme)" from Live at the It Club-Complete (Columbia) 01:00 James ...

5
Interview

Ahmad Jamal: In his Own Sense of Time and Place

Read "Ahmad Jamal: In his Own Sense of Time and Place" reviewed by Josef Woodard


This interview first appeared in the Santa Barbara News-Press on October 2005. The introduction has been updated. For the late, great and uniquely poetic pianist Ahmad Jamal, who passed on at age 92 on April 16, 2023, easy descriptors never sufficed in capturing his particular magic. He was a classicist, a modernist, a minimalist and a seeker on his own terms. “Poinciana," circa his classic 1957 live recording from the “hit" album Live at the Pershing: But Not ...


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