Jazz for aficionados

O- I really like the Ahmad Jamal tracks you linked to.  I also finished all of The Awarkening and liked that from start to finish.  Might be buying that one.  I don't know enough to talk about how his renditions would compare to another jazz pianist's version of those.  I can say, to my ear, there's an economy at work and a very nice sense of clarity and balance in his playing.  Also a lot of heft to it...even when he's playing a fast run in upper octaves, it has weight and is authoritative even in piano sections.  Not sure why that is but do like his style.

What was up with the "lack of interest comments"?  AJ not considered "orthodox" jazz by some?  

I enjoyed reading the various quotes.  The one from Cannonball Adderly, especially, about AJ always giving the impression he had something in reserve.  

So much of jazz is new to me. This was a nice intro to AJ...one of those, why was I not told about this sooner moments.  THANKS 

I don't know how old Schubert is; but, I know that he is (was?) one of the most musically astute posters on this site.  I believe that what happened (based on his own posts that I happened to read) is that he had a very unfortunate experience with a sale and, it seemed to me, caused him to get discouraged and stop posting.  I hope he is well.  

A pause doesn't necessarily mean a "loss".  Been traveling a lot and haven't had the time or inclination to post.  As I said recently, from my point of view, not only are pauses in posting to be expected, but it might be good to take the sense of urgency out of the equation.  Jus sayin.  

Jamal is the rare player who seems to have found the stylistic sweet spot that appeals to just about every type of listener sensibility.  There is an infectious "feel good" quality about his playing that is wonderful.  His style is accessible, tuneful and very economical with great use of space (silence).  He doesn't crowd a listener's senses with a lot of notes and there is a wonderful simple logic in his style.  Love his playing.  

Frogman, I think your last paragraph is "spot on" and captures my reaction to Jamal perfectly...much better than I could say it.  

Just listened to that 1958, Poinciana track from the Pershing recordings. Can clearly hear his use of "space" in that one.  Much more obvious than in the later and somewhat busier album, The Awakening that I started with this evening.  

Ghosthouse, I saw him live in Chicago, and he really cooked, I mean he doesn't always play with space; he can play a lot of notes when he wants to. If you think about it, his music in your listening room could be quite entertaining, but almost boring on a live set; that's why he set the house on fire; especially in Chicago, his adopted home town.

Frogman, I remember Schubert getting messed around, and he felt Audiogon should have been more helpful in resolving it. That's the last time I remember him posting.

Whatever the reason for your absence, I'm glad I was wrong, because a professional musician's interpretation of the music is always more definitive.


Enjoy the music.

Ahmad Jamal "The Awakening" is the album I'm reviewing today. Ghosthouse, I believe you are already familiar with this album; since it has such a high rating, I'm reviewing it for the rest of the aficionados.

According to "Sputnic Music", review by Tyler Fisher; if there was ever a man that never received the credit he deserved, that man was Ahmad Jamal. Jamal played jazz piano differently from everyone else. He had the classical chops to play all over the place and use his jazz knowledge to run across the piano with all kinds of different scales, but Jamal was smarter than that. He knew that 32nd note runs for 8 minutes straight would get boring and tiring. He used space and silence so well that it inspired much of Miles Davis’ playing. However, the world gives Davis the credit for revolutionizing that style of playing. The general public doesn’t even list Jamal in the top ten jazz pianists of all time. Obviously, that means nothing to Jamal, as displayed in his track title I Love Music. That’s really all that matters, and that mindset shines through brilliantly on The Awakening.

To know a musician, is to know and love his music; if you know a musician, and idolize his music, it's a good start to a friendship. A musician and his music are one; although that sounds like a simple statement, it takes an aficionado to understand the depth of that statement.

It's time to listen to some music; lets begin with the title tune, "The Awakening", this is "classic" Ahmad.


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=az5bBFWAI8I


Lets go with "Stolen Moments" from that same album.


  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=274HuIch2GY


There you have it, now I'll wait for your take on this album.



Enjoy the music.