Ahmad Jamal

Hi Mike

If you can get it, an album called The Awakening is good sonically and the trio really swings. It was recorded in 1970 and is on the Impulse label.

His later recordings on Telarc are all pretty good.

Cheers

Rick.

Live in Paris '92 is my favourite though the Telarc albums, (Live at Joe Segals Jazz Showcase, and I remember Duke, Hoagy and Strayhorn) are good too.

The Live in Paris '96, and AJ a L'Olympia are worthwhile, but they feature a larger band and I prefer my AJ au naturelle - Piano trio.

Saw him live at the Vancouver Jazz Festival two years ago and it was wonderful. Saw Bill Frisell the next night too - most fine.

Colin Lorenson

I'm just feeling that way. I don't know why.

Thanks Rick and Colin. You two hail from some distant parts, and it seems I have had to go to the ends of the Earth to get some Ahmad Jamal recommendations. The CD I picked up used wasa "Live at Joe Segals" from '93 with John Heard and Yoron Israel, and it's a great performance. I will now try to hunt down "The Awakenings" as well as the others.

Cheers,
Mike

I've got one by ahmad called "crystal", on the atlantic label from 1987.I like it,maybe give it a spin? Cheers, matt.

Live At the Montreal Jazz Festival 1985 is absurdly funky.

-- Ian

Hi Mike,

I know you were looking for studio works, but I picked up a good live album from Blues Alley.

http://www.bluesalley.com/index.htm

Looking forward to checking out the other titles mentioned here.

Pat

Hey Folks,

I'm a bit late here...but I just picked up a 20 Bit Super-mapped re-issue of The Awakening (still on Impulse.) It comes in a nice trifold cardboard jewel case. Anyhow, this my first Ahmad Jamal, and I am floored. I listened to it twice in a row last night -- definitely, this album is the right place to start.

So, where do I go from here? I like the trio sound as well. Are there other similar classics to his oevre?

cheers,
daniel

While we're back on the topic, the great thing about Ahmad is that the music is beautiful, melodic and pallateable (unlike some modern artists that have gone in an atonal or simply "weird" direction), yet he is playing in a current style of his day rather than merely emulating those who have come before him. I'm curoius of any other artists that would fall into this category NOW (ca 2004) who could be heard on recent releases.

Daniel, check out the live as Seigels in Chicago recordings of Ahmad.

Two of his modern, studio recordings that I have enjoyed are Rossiter Road from 1986 on Atlantic, and the more recent album The Essence Part 1 on Verve from the mid 90's. If you listen to LP's, you might be able find a used copy of Rossiter Road, which was highly praised in the American High End Audio press for great sonics. It has some very well recorded percussion backing in addition to a normal piano trio.

He has such a long and consistent career that you should have plenty to choose from. Happy hunting!