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2006-04-20
7:30PM
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"...Jamal is probably the most distinctive jazz pianist since Theolonius Monk...(his) music was a constant theatre of surprise...[waves] of sound suddenly rose up from nowhere, then dropped away to the merest tinkling at the top of the keyboard... It was as intensely dramatic as it was emotionally tight-lipped..."
-John Shand, Sydney Morning Herald
"No musician has had a more profound effect on the orchestral approach to small groups in the last 35 years than Ahmad Jamal...He is a virtuoso, but his innovations are found in his arrangements...."
-Stanley Crouch, Village Voice
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[ Complete Show Schedule... ] |
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FEATURING:
Ahmad Jamal – piano
Idris Mohammed – drums
Jamas Camack – bass |
Celebrated pianist-composer Ahmad Jamal continues his performance schedule around the world, as he has for well over the last four decades. Noted for his outstanding technical command and identifiable sound as a piano stylist, Mr. Jamal was born on July 2, 1930, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A child prodigy who began to play the piano at the age of 3, he began formal studies at 7. While in high school, he completed the equivalent of college master classes under the noted African-American concert singer and teacher Mary Cardwell Dawson and pianist James Miller. He joined the musicians union at the age of 14, and he began touring upon graduation from Westinghouse High School at the age of 17, drawing critical acclaim for his solos.
In 1951, he formed his first trio, The Three Strings. Performing at New York's The Embers club, Record Producer John Hammond "discovered" The Three Strings and signed them to Okeh Records (a division of Columbia, now Sony, Records).
In 1956, Mr. Jamal, who had already been joined by bassist Israel Crosby in 1955, replaced guitarist Ray Crawford with a drummer. Working as the "house trio" at Chicago's Pershing Hotel, in 1958, drummer Vernell Fournier joined this trio and Mr. Jamal made a "live" album for Argo (Chess) Records entitled But Not For Me. The resulting hit single and album, that also included Poinciana--his rendition, now Mr. Jamal's "trademark", remained on the Ten Best-selling charts -- amazingly for a jazz album -- an unprecedented 108 weeks! This financial success enabled Mr. Jamal to realize a dream, and he opened a restaurant/club, The Alhambra, in Chicago. Here the Trio was able to perform while limiting their touring schedule.
Considering his trio "an orchestra", Mr. Jamal not only achieves a unified sound, but subtly inserts independent roles for the bass and drums. The hallmarks of Mr. Jamal's style are rhythmic innovations, colorful harmonic perceptions, especially left hand harmonic and melodic figures, plus parallel and contrary motion lines in and out of chordal substitutions and alterations and pedal point ostinato interludes in tasteful dynamics. He also incorporates a unique sense of space in his music, and his musical concepts are exciting without being loud in volume. Augmented by a selection of unusual standards and his own compositions, Mr. Jamal would notably impress and influence, among others, trumpeter Miles Davis.
In 1994, Mr. Jamal received the American Jazz Masters fellowship award from the National Endowment for the Arts. The same year he was named a Duke Ellington Fellow at Yale University, where he performed commissioned works with the Assai String Quartet.
Mr. Jamal's 1996 release, The Essence (Verve 529 327-2) features a first -- a recording made with a horn, tenor saxophonist George Coleman. Already released in Europe, the album has received such critical salutations as "Historique!" as well as the resulting outstanding sales and the"CHOC" award in France. The album has also received the D'jango award, and a concert at Salle Pleyel was sold out.
Mr. Jamal's most recent release, Olympia 2000, has already climbed to the top of the Jazz charts and is currently one of the best sellers. The release date for Olympia 2000 was October 23, 2001. The CD features George Coleman, tenor saxophone, Idris Muhammad, drums and James Cammack, bass.
www.ahmadjamal.net
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