Jazz Articles about Ahmad Jamal

About Ahmad Jamal

Profile

Ahmad Jamal: An American Classic

by Chuck Lenatti
April 30, 2024

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 1930-1958: From Pittsburgh to The Pershing Frederick Russell Jones was born on July 2, 1930, to a working-class family in Pittsburgh. His friends called him Fritz. As a boy, he delivered newspapers to Billy Strayhorn's family. He converted to Islam around 1950 and took the name Ahmad Jamal. His family identified him as a child prodigy at the tender age of three after his uncle ...

Album Review

Ahmad Jamal: Live in Paris (1971)

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

by Joshua Weiner
March 26, 2024

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 ...

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

by Mike Jurkovic
December 3, 2023

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 ...

The Revolution Will NOT Be Televised

The Best of Times, the Worst of Times

by William H. Snyder
July 14, 2023

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 ...

Radio & Podcasts

What in the Bag?

by Patrick Burnette
May 25, 2023

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, ...

Radio & Podcasts

Vijay Iyer, Cal Tjader, Ella Fitzgerald & Ahmad Jamal

by Joe Dimino
May 14, 2023

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 ...

Radio & Podcasts

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

by David Brown
May 4, 2023

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 ...