One of Miles Davis's favorite musicians, Ahmad Jamal has a unique approach as a pianist, composer, and arranger that is highly influential and distinctive.
Possessed of a light, almost classical touch, and a purveyor of negative space and minimal phrasing (his influence on Davis can certainly be seen here), Jamal worked largely in trio settings, and used his conceptions of space and subtlety to create dynamic tensions within the group.
At the same time, the artist's work is rooted firmly in the blues and swings intently, without fail.
Ahmad's Blues, the trio's 1958 live date in Washington D.C., demonstrates all of these qualities in spades.
Supremely attentive playing by bassist Israel Crosby and drummer Vernel Fournier (his brush work on the intricate, gear-shifting "Autumn Leaves" is especially noteworthy) provides groundwork, foil, and shifting frames for Jamal's virtuoso explorations.
The ensemble's work brings new ideas -- the musicians often incorporate understated mambo, fractured swing rhythms, or airy, abstract structures -- to standards ("Stompin' at the Savoy;" "Cheek to Cheek") and to Jamal's own compositions (the delicate "Seleritus").
Ahmad's Blues allows us to eavesdrop on the sophisticated, innovative artist and company at work.
| Title/Composers | Performer | Listen | Time | Size | Size | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ahmad's BluesAhmad Jamal | Ahmad Jamal | Play | 04:06 | 9 MB | 23 MB |
| 2 | It Could Happen to YouJohnny Burke, James Van Heusen | Ahmad Jamal | Play | 04:15 | 9 MB | 25 MB |
| 3 | I Wish I KnewMack Gordon, Harry Warren | Ahmad Jamal | Play | 03:45 | 8 MB | 21 MB |
| 4 | Autumn LeavesJoseph Kosma, Johnny Mercer, Jacques Prévert | Ahmad Jamal | Play | 07:40 | 17 MB | 46 MB |
| 5 | Stompin' at the SavoyBenny Goodman, Andy Razaf, Edgar Sampson, Chick Webb | Ahmad Jamal | Play | 04:15 | 9 MB | 13 MB |
| 6 | Cheek to CheekIrving Berlin | Ahmad Jamal | Play | 04:47 | 10 MB | 29 MB |
| 7 | The Girl Next DoorRalph Blane, Hugh Martin | Ahmad Jamal | Play | 03:26 | 7 MB | 20 MB |
| 8 | Secret LoveSammy Fain, Paul Francis Webster | Ahmad Jamal | Play | 03:51 | 8 MB | 22 MB |
| 9 | Squatty RooJohnny Hodges | Ahmad Jamal | Play | 02:18 | 5 MB | 13 MB |
| 10 | Autumn in New YorkVernon Duke | Ahmad Jamal | Play | 03:18 | 7 MB | 18 MB |
| 11 | A Gal in CalicoLeo Robin, Arthur Schwartz | Ahmad Jamal | Play | 04:44 | 10 MB | 27 MB |
| 12 | That's AllAlan Brandt, Bob Haymes, Clyde Otis, Kelly Owens | Ahmad Jamal | Play | 02:38 | 6 MB | 14 MB |
| 13 | SeleritusAhmad Jamal | Ahmad Jamal | Play | 03:12 | 7 MB | 20 MB |
| 14 | Let's Fall in LoveHarold Arlen, Ted Koehler | Ahmad Jamal | Play | 05:06 | 11 MB | 32 MB |
| 15 | Should I | Ahmad Jamal | Play | 03:40 | 8 MB | 22 MB |
| 61 mins | 139 MB | |||||
| 61 mins | 351 MB | |||||
| Artist | Job | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harold Arlen | Composer |
| 2 | Andy Baltimore | Creative Director |
| 3 | Lilian Barbuti | Assistant |
| 4 | Irving Berlin | Composer |
| 5 | Ralph Blane | Composer |
| 6 | Alan Brandt | Composer |
| 7 | Cara Bridgins | Production Coordination |
| 8 | Nacio Herb Brown | Composer |
| 9 | Johnny Burke | Composer |
| 10 | Malcolm Chisholm | Engineer |
| 11 | Israel Crosby | Bass |
| 12 | Joseph Doughney | Post Production |
| 13 | Vernon Duke | Composer |
| 14 | Sammy Fain | Composer |
| 15 | Vernel Fournier | Drums |
| 16 | Arthur Freed | Composer |
| 17 | Laurie Goldman | Graphic Design |
| 18 | Benny Goodman | Composer |
| 19 | Mack Gordon | Composer |
| 20 | Dave Grusin | Executive Producer |
| 21 | Bob Haymes | Composer |
| 22 | James Van Heusen | Composer |
| 23 | Johnny Hodges | Composer |
| 24 | Ahmad Jamal | Composer, Piano, Primary Artist |
| 25 | Bud Katzel | Project Director |
| 26 | Orrin Keepnews | Producer |
| 27 | Hollis King | Art Direction |
| 28 | Ted Koehler | Composer |
| 29 | Joseph Kosma | Composer |
| 30 | Erick Labson | Audio Enhancement, Digital Transfers, Remastering |
| 31 | Michael Landy | Post Production |
| 32 | Margarita Lecuona | Composer |
| 33 | Hugh Martin | Composer |
| 34 | Sonny Mediana | Production Director |
| 35 | Johnny Mercer | Composer |
| 36 | Joseph Moore | Assistant |
| 37 | Clyde Otis | Composer |
| 38 | Kelly Owens | Composer |
| 39 | Jacques Prévert | Composer |
| 40 | Andy Razaf | Composer |
| 41 | Leo Robin | Composer |
| 42 | Larry Rosen | Executive Producer |
| 43 | Bob Russell | Composer |
| 44 | Edgar Sampson | Composer |
| 45 | Arthur Schwartz | Composer |
| 46 | Dan Serrano | Art Direction |
| 47 | Chuck Stewart | Photography |
| 48 | Neil Tesser | Liner Notes |
| 49 | David Usher | Producer |
| 50 | Harry Warren | Composer |
| 51 | Chick Webb | Composer |
| 52 | Paul Francis Webster | Composer |
| Quality | Format | Encoding | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | MP3 | 320kps 44.1kHz | MP3 is an audio coding format which uses a form of lossy data compression. The highest bitrate of this format is 320kbps (kbit/s). MP3 Digital audio takes less amount of space (up to 90% reduction in size) and the quality is not as good as the original one. |
| CD Quality | FLAC | 16bit 44.1kHz | FLAC is an audio coding format which uses lossless compression. Digital audio in FLAC format has a smaller size and retains the same quality of the original Compact Disc (CD). |