Born: July 2, 1930 Primary Instrument: Piano
In 1951, Mr. Jamal first recorded 'Ahmad's Blues' on Okeh Records. His arrangement of the folk tune 'Billy Boy', and 'Poinciana' (not his original composition), also stem from this period. In 1955, he recorded his first Argo (Chess) Records album that included 'New Rhumba', 'Excerpts From The Blues', 'Medley' (actually 'I Don't Want To Be Kissed'), and 'It Ain't Necessarily So' --all later utilized by Miles Davis and Gil Evans on the albums “Miles Ahead” and “Porgy and Bess.” In his autobiography, Mr. Davis praises Mr. Jamal's special artistic qualities and cites his influence. In fact, the mid-to-late 1950's Miles Davis Quintet recordings notably feature material previously recorded by Mr. Jamal: 'Squeeze Me', 'It Could Happen To You', 'But Not For Me', 'Surrey With The Fringe On Top', 'Ahmad's Blues', 'On Green Dolphin Street' and 'Billy Boy'.
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 drummer Vernell Fournier joined this trio in 1958 and Mr. Jamal made a live album for Argo Records entitled “But Not For Me”. The resulting hit single and album, that also included 'Poinciana' -- his rendition could be considered his “signature”. This album remained on the Ten Best-selling charts for 108 weeks -- unprecedented then for a jazz album. 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 and Mr. Jamal was able to do record production and community work.
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 age 7. While in high school, he completed the equivalent of college master classes under the noted African-American concert singer and teacher Mary Caldwell 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 1950, 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).
Mr. Jamal has continued to record his outstanding original arrangements of such standards as 'I Love You', 'A Time For Love', 'On Green Dolphin Street' (well before Miles Davis!), 'End of a Love Affair', to cite a few. Mr. Jamal's own classic compositions begin with 'Ahmad's Blues' (first recorded on October 25, 1951!), 'New Rhumba', 'Manhattan Reflections', 'Tranquility', 'Extensions', 'The Awakening', 'Night Mist Blues' and most recently 'If I Find You Again', among many others..
In 1994, Mr. Jamal received the American Jazz Masters 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. A CD is available of these works.
In 1970, Mr. Jamal performed the title tune by Johnny Mandel for the soundtrack of the film “Mash!”; and in 1995, two tracks from his hit album “But Not For Me” -- 'Music, Music, Music', and 'Poinciana' -- were featured in the Clint Eastwood film “The Bridges of Madison County”.
Mr. Jamal's CD entitled “The Essence” features tenor saxophonist George Coleman -- Mr. Jamal's first recording made with a horn! Critical acclaim and outstanding sales resulted in two prestigious awards: D'jango D'or (critics) and Cloch (for sales) in France. Its success generated a concert at Salle Pleyel, and a CD has been released “Ahmad Jamal a Paris” (1992) and a second “live” concert by Mr. Jamal in l996 under the same title, unissued except in France and available on the Dreyfus Records on the Internet, Mr. Jamal rightly considers one of his best recordings. Ahmad Jamal's 70th Birthday “live” concert recording Olympia 2000, is known as “The Essence Part III”. “The Essence, Part II”, featured Donald Byrd on the title track, and on his CD entitled “Nature”, Stanley Turrentine is featured on 'The Devil's In My Den', and steel drummer Othello Molineaux augments the trio format. Continuing his recording career, Mr. Jamal released “In Search of” on CD, and his first DVD “Live In Baalbeck”.
For students of the piano, Hal Leonard Publications has published “The Ahmad Jamal Collection”, a collection of piano transcriptions. Mr. Jamal continues to record exclusively for the French Birdology label, and his albums are released on Verve and Atlantic in the United States.
Mr. Jamal is an exclusive Steinway piano artist.
Mr. Jamal's 'About My Life' story in his own words:
At three years of age, my wonderful Uncle Lawrence stopped me while I was walking past the piano in my parents' living room. He was playing the piano and challenged me to duplicate what he was doing. Although I had never touched this or any piano, I sat down and played note for note what I had heard. “The rest is history.”
What a thrilling ride it has been and continues to be. I was born in one of the most remarkable places in the world for musicians and people in the arts - Pittsburgh, PA. At seven years, I was selling newspapers to Billy Strayhorn's family. Billy had already left home; I didn't get to meet him until years later. Following is a partial listing of “Pittsburghers:”
George Benson
Roy Eldridge
Art Blakey
Errol Garner
Kenny Clarke
Earl “Fatha” Hines
Billy Eckstein
Phyllis Hyman
Maxine Sullivan
Gene Kelly
Stanley Turrentine
Joe Kennedy, Jr.
Earl Wild
Oscar Levant
Mary Loe Williams
Lorin Maazel
George Hudson (his orchestra was my first job away from home, I was 17 and just out of high school.) - Dodo Marmarosa
Dakota Staton
Billy Strayhorn
At seven years of age I began my studies with a wonderful woman, Mary Cardwell Dawson. In addition to her great influence on me, she was very influential in the careers of many musical personalities on a local, as well as worldwide basis. One of her students is my life long friend, violinist, Joe Kennedy, Jr. Later, while still in my teens, I began studying with James Miller, as a result of Mrs. Dawson's relocation to Washington, D.C.
After touring with George Hudson's Orchestra, I traveled to Chicago with The Four Strings, a group headed by violinist, Joe Kennedy, Jr. Unfortunately, the group disbanded because of a lack of employment and in 1951, I formed The Three Strings.
The year 1951 was the beginning of my recording career. “Ahmad's Blues,” which I wrote in 1948 during my stint with a song and dance team out of East St. Louis, was one of my first recordings; “Ahmad's Blues” has been heard in the stage play, “Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?,” and recorded by Marlena Shaw, Natalie Cole, Red Garland and others. The first session also included my arrangement of the folk tune, “Billy Boy,” which arrangement was copied by many of my peers. I wrote “New Rhumba” around 1951 and it has also been recorded and performed by many others, most notably Miles Davis. My most famous recording was done in Chicago in 1958 at the Pershing Hotel with two of the most talented musicians of the century, Israel Crosby and Vernell Fournier.
Five decades covering my career are most interesting to me and contain some of the historical data that you can find by clicking the indicated categories of my web page menu. What you can't find won't be available until my proposed autobiography goes to print.
1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959
1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969
1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979
1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
As a Side Musician
As a Leader/Co-Leader
1951
The Legendary Okeh and Epic RecordingsEpic/Legacy
Columbia Studios, Chicago, IL, October 25, 1951° & May 5, 1952¹ & Columbia 30th Street Studio, NYC, October 25, 1955²³.
Tracks: The Surrey With The Fringe On Top °; Will You Still Be Mine?°; Ahmad's Blues¹; A Gal In Calico¹; Aki And Ukthay¹; Billy Boy¹; Black Beauty²; Love For Sale²; Something To Remember You By²; Poinciana³; Don't Blame Me²; Autumn Leaves²; They Can't Take That Away From Me²; Old Devil Moon³; It's Easy To Remember³; Squeeze Me²; Crazy He Calls Me³; Pavanne³; Perfidia²; Rica Pulpa²; The Donkey Serenade³.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; Ray Crawford: guitar; Eddie Calhoun°¹: bass; Israel Crosby²: bass.
Note: This is a reissue from 2005. Originally issued on The Piano Scene Of Ahmad Jamal°¹³ and The Ahmad Jamal Trio² (Epic).
1955
Chamber Music Of The New JazzArgo
Chicago, IL, May 23, 1955.
Tracks: New Rhumba; A Foggy Day; All Of You; It Ain't Necessarily So; I Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You); I Get A Kick Out of You; Jeff; Darn That Dream; Spring Is Here.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; Ray Crawford: guitar; Israel Crosby: bass.
Note: Reissued 2004 (Verve).
1956
Count 'Em: 88Argo
Chicago, IL, September 17° & October 4¹, 1956.
Tracks: Volga Boatmen°; On Green Dolphin Street°; How About You?°; I Just Can't See for Looking¹; Spring Will Be a Little Late This Year°; Beat Out One°; Maryann°; It's Easy to Remember°; Jim Love Sue°.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; Ray Crawford: guitar; Walter Perkins: drums.
1958
At The Pershing: But Not For MeArgo/Chess
The Pershing Lounge, Chicago, IL, January 16, 1958.
Tracks: But Not For Me; The Surrey With The Fringe On Top; Moonlight In Vermont; (Put Another Nickel In) Music! Music! Music!; No Greater Love; Poinciana°; Woody 'N You; What's New?.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; Israel Crosby: bass; Vernell Fournier: drums.
Note: All tracks except 'No Greater Love' and 'What's New?' reissued on Cross Country Tour: 1958-1961 (GRP).
At The Pershing, Volume 2
Argo
The Pershing Lounge, Chicago, IL, January 17, 1958.
Tracks: Too Late Now; All The Things You Are; Cherokee; It Might As Well Be Spring; I'll Remember April; My Funny Valentine; Gone With The Wind; Billy Boy; It's You Or No One; They Can't Take That Away From Me; Poor Butterfly?.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; Israel Crosby: bass; Vernell Fournier: drums.
Note: All tracks except 'My Funny Valentine', 'They Can't Take That Away From Me' and 'Poor Butterfly?' reissued on Cross Country Tour: 1958-1961 (GRP).
The set at the Spotlite Club in Washington was released in several formats, the next 4 entries cover these concerts (with considerable overlap). There is one complete version which was released on the (dubious) Gambit label
Poinciana
Argo
Spotlite Club, Washington, D.C., September 5 & 6, 1958.
Tracks: Poinciana; You Don't Know What Love Is; A Gal In Calico; Ivy; Tater Pie; Autumn Leaves; This Can't Be Love; Old Devil Moon.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; Israel Crosby: bass; Vernell Fournier: drums.
Note: 4 tracks (You Don't Know What Love Is; Tater Pie; This Can't Be Love; Old Devil Moon) reissued on Cross Country Tour: 1958-1961 (GRP).
Ahmad Jamal Trio, Vol. 4
Argo
Spotlite Club, Washington, D.C., September 5 & 6, 1958.
Tracks: Stompin' At The Savoy; The Girl Next Door; Taboo; Should I?; I Wish I Knew; Cheek To Cheek; Autumn In New York; Secret Love; Squatty Roo; That's All.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; Israel Crosby: bass; Vernell Fournier: drums.
Ahmad's Blues
Chess
Spotlite Club, Washington, D.C., September 5 & 6, 1958.
Tracks: Ahmad's Blues; It Could Happen To You; I Wish I Knew; Autumn Leaves; Stompin' At The Savoy; Cheek To Cheek; The Girl Next Door; Secret Love; Squatty Roo; Taboo; Autumn In New York; A Gal In Calico; That's All; Should I?; Seleritus; Let's Fall In Love.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; Israel Crosby: bass; Vernell Fournier: drums.
The Portfolio Of Ahmad Jamal
Argo
Spotlite Club, Washington, D.C., September 5 & 6, 1958.
Tracks: This Can't Be Love; Autumn Leaves; Ahmad's Blues; Old Devil Moon; Serelitus; It Could Happen To You; Ivy; Tater Pie; Let's Fall In Love; Aki And Ukthay (Brother And Sister); You Don't Know What Love Is; I Didn't Know What Time It Was; So Beats My Heart For You; A Gal In Calico; Our Delight.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; Israel Crosby: bass; Vernell Fournier: drums.
Note: 4 tracks (You Don't Know What Love Is; Tater Pie; This Can't Be Love; Old Devil Moon) reissued on Cross Country Tour: 1958-1961 (GRP).
1959
Ahmad Jamal At The PenthouseArgo
Nola Penthouse Studio, NYC, February 27 & 28, 1959.
Tracks: Comme Ci, Comme Ca; Ivy; Never Never Land; Tangerine; Ahmad's Blues; Seleritus; I Like To Recognize The Tune; I'm Alone With You; Sophisticated Gentlemen.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; Israel Crosby: bass; Vernell Fournier: drums; string section conducted by Joe Kennedy.
1960
Happy MoodsArgo
Ter-Mar Recording Studios, Chicago, IL, January 20 & 21, 1960.
Tracks: Little Old Lady; You'd Be So Easy to Love; Time On My Hands; For All We Know; I'll Never Stop Loving You; Excerpt From The Blues; Rain Check; Speak Low; Rhumba No. 2.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; Israel Crosby: bass; Vernell Fournier: drums.
Listen To The Ahmad Jamal Quintet
Argo
Ter-Mar Recording Studios, Chicago, IL, August 15- 17, 1960.
Tracks: Who Cares?; Ahmad's Waltz; Hallelujah; Tempo For Two; Yesterdays; It's A Wonderful World; You Came A Long Way From St. Louis; Valentine; Lover Man; Baia.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; Israel Crosby: bass; Vernell Fournier: drums, Ray Crawford: guitar; Joe Kennedy: violin.
1961
AlhambraArgo
Ahmad Jamal's Alhambra, Chicago, IL, June 1961.
Tracks: We Kiss In the Shadow; Sweet And Lovely; The Party's Over; Love For Sale; Snowfall; Broadway; Willow Weep For Me; Autumn Leaves; Isn't It Romantic?; The Breeze And I.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; Israel Crosby: bass; Vernell Fournier: drums.
Note: 4 tracks (Sweet And Lovely; The Party's Over; Snowfall; Broadway) reissued on Cross Country Tour: 1958-1961 (GRP).
All Of You
Argo
Ahmad Jamal's Alhambra, Chicago, IL, June 1961.
Tracks: Isn't It Romantic?; All of You; You're Blasé; Time On My Hands; Angel Eyes; You Go To My Head; Star Eyes; What Is This Thing Called Love?.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; Israel Crosby: bass; Vernell Fournier: drums.
Note: 3 tracks (Time On My Hands; Angel Eyes; What Is This Thing Called Love?) reissued on Cross Country Tour: 1958-1961 (GRP).
Ahmad Jamal At The Blackhawk
Argo
Blackhawk, San Francisco, CA, late 1961.
Tracks: I'll Take Romance; My Funny Valentine; Like Someone in Love; Falling in Love With Love; The Best Thing for You; April in Paris; The Second Time Around; We Live in Two Different Worlds; Night Mist Blues.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; Israel Crosby: bass; Vernell Fournier: drums.
Note: All tracks except 'We Live in Two Different Worlds' and 'Night Mist Blues' reissued on Cross Country Tour: 1958-1961 (GRP).
Note: One extra track ('Darn That Dream', location unknown, probably early 1962) issued on Cross Country Tour: 1958-1961 (GRP).
1962
MacanudoArgo
Rudy Van Gelder Recording Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, December 20 & 23, 1962.
Tracks: Montevideo; Bogota; Sugar Loaf At Twilight; Haitian Marketplace; Buenos Aires; Bossa Nova Do Marilla; Carnival In Panama.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; orchestra directed by Richard Evans.
1963
Naked City ThemeArgo
The Jazz Workshop, San Francisco, CA, December 10, 1963° & June 26-28, 1964¹.
Tracks: Naked City Theme (Somewhere In the Night)°; Minor Moods; One For Miles°; Haitian Marketplace°; Beautiful Love¹; Keep On Keeping On¹; Lollipops And Roses¹.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; Jamil Nasser: bass; Chuck Lampkin: drums.
1965
The Roar Of The GreasepaintArgo
NYC, February 24 & 25, 1965.
Tracks: Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me); That's What It Is To Be Young; This Dream; The Beautiful Land; Look At That Face; Where Would You Be Without Me?; It Isn't Enough; My First Love Song; Sweet Beginning; A Wonderful Day Like Today; Feeling Good.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; Jamil Nasser: bass; Chuck Lampkin: drums.
Extensions
Argo
Nola Penthouse Studio, NYC, May 18-20, 1965.
Tracks: This Terrible Planet; Dance To The Lady; Whisper Not; Extensions.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; Jamil Nasser: bass; Vernell Fournier: drums.
Rhapsody
Cadet
Nola Penthouse Studio, NYC, December 15-17, 1965.
Tracks: Effendi; Concern; Strange; Invitation; This Could Be The Start Of Something Big; The Shadow Of Your Smile; I Hear A Rhapsody; Then I'll Be Tired Of You; You Can Be Sure.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; Jamil Nasser: bass; Vernell Fournier: drums; string section arranged by Joe Kennedy.
1966
Heat WaveCadet
Edgewood Recording Studio, Washington, D.C., February 17 & 19, 1966.
Tracks: Heat Wave; April In Paris; Allison; Gloria; St. Thomas; Misty; Maybe September; Fantastic Vehicle; The Girl Next Door.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; Jamil Nasser: bass; Frank Gant: drums.
1967
Cry YoungCadet
Fine Recording Studio, NYC, June 12 & 13, 1967.
Tracks: C'Est Si Bon; Cry Young; Nature Boy; Call Me Irresponsible; There Are Such Things; Minor Moods (Midnight Lament); Who Needs Manhattan; Little Ditty; Tropical Breeze; A Beautiful Friendship; Where Is Love?.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; Jamil Nasser: bass; Frank Gant: drums; The Howard Roberts Chorale: voices.
1968
The Bright, The Blue And The BeautifulCadet
NYC, February 12 & 13, 1968.
Tracks: By Myself; Never Let Me Go; Wild Is The Wind; Yesterdays; I Wish I Knew; Ballad For Beverly; Lover Man; Of Bass I Love; At Long Last; Gypsies In The Wind.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; Jamil Nasser: bass; Frank Gant: drums; The Howard Roberts Chorale: voices.
Tranquility
Impulse
Capitol Studios, NYC, mid 1968.
Tracks: I Say A Little Prayer; The Look Of Love; When I Look In Your Eyes; Illusions; Nothing Ever Changes My Love For You; Emily; Tranquility; Free Again; Manhattan Reflections.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; Jamil Nasser: bass; Frank Gant: drums.
At the Top: Poinciana Revisited
Impulse
Village Gate, NYC, 1968.
Tracks: Have You Met Miss Jones?; Poinciana; Lament; Call Me; Theme From 'Valley Of The Dolls'; Frank's Tune; How Insensitive.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; Jamil Nasser: bass; Frank Gant: drums.
1970
The AwakeningImpulse
Plaza Sound Studios, NYC, February 2 & 3, 1970.
Tracks: I Love Music; Patterns; Dolphin Dance; You're My Everything; Stolen Moments; Wave.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; Jamil Nasser: bass; Frank Gant: drums.
1971
FreeflightImpulse
Montreux Jazz Festival, Montreux, Switzerland, July 1971.
Tracks: Effendi; Dolphin Dance; Manhattan Reflections; Poinciana.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; Jamil Nasser: bass; Frank Gant: drums.
Outertimeinnerspace
Impulse
Montreux Jazz Festival, Montreux, Switzerland, July 1971.
Tracks: Bogota; Extensions.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano, keyboards; Jamil Nasser: bass; Frank Gant: drums.
1973
Ahmad Jamal '7320th Century
1973.
Tracks: World Is A Ghetto; Children Of The Night; Superstition; Trilby; Sustah, Sustah; Soul Girl; Peace At Last.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano, keyboards; Orchestra directed by Richard Evans.
1974
Jamalca20th Century
1974.
Tracks: Ghetto Child; Misdemeanor; Along The Nile; Trouble Man; Jamaica; Don't Misunderstand; Theme Bahamas; Children Calling; Theme From M*A*S*H (Suicide Is Painless).
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano, keyboards; Orchestra directed by Richard Evans.
Jamal Plays Jamal
20th Century
Generation Sound, NYC & P.S. Recording Studio, Chicago, IL, 1974.
Tracks: Eclipse; Pastures; Dialogue; Spanish Interlude; Death And Resurrection; Swahililand.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano, keyboards; Jamil Nasser: bass; Frank Gant: drums; Azzedin Weston: congas.
1975
Genetic Walk20th Century
P.S. Recording Studio, Chicago, IL (1-4) & Wailly Heider Recording, Los Angeles, CA (5) & The Village Recorder, Los Angeles, CA (6-8), 1975.
Tracks: 1. Genetic Walk; 2. Chaser; 3. La Costa; 4. Don't Ask My Neighbor; 5. Spartacus Love Theme; 6. Pablo Sierra; 7. Bellows; 8. Time For Love.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano, keyboards; Danny Leake (4), Calvin Keys (6,7): guitar; John Heard (5,6,7,8), Roger Harris (1), Jamil Nasser (2), Richard Evans (3,4): bass; Steve Cobb (3), Morris Jenkins (1,4), Eddie Marshall (5), Harvey Mason (6), Frank Gant (2,7): drums.
1976
Steppin' Out With A Dream20th Century
The Village Recorder, Los Angeles, CA, 1976.
Tracks: Handicapper; Prelude To A Kiss; My One And Only Love; Tucson; Crossfire.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: keyboards; John Heard: bass; Frank Gant: drums; Calvin Keys: guitar.
Live At Oil Can Harry's
Catalyst
Oil Can Harry's, Vancouver, Canada, August 13, 1976.
Tracks: Effendi; Poinciana; Folklore; Bellows.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; Calvin Keys: guitar; John Heard: Bass; Frank Gant: drums; Seldon Newton: percussion.
1978
One20th Century
Wailly Heider Recording, Los Angeles, CA, My, June & July 1978.
Tracks: One (Ahmad)°; Just The Way You Are¹; Jet²; Black Cow³; Dynamoª; Sumayah; Festival*.
Personnel: David Crawford°: flute, alto flute; Ahmad Jamal: piano, clavinet³; Mike Melvoin°¹: synthesizer; Steve Bowling³: keyboards; Calvin Keysª*, John Rowin°¹²³: guitar, Mario Henderson¹²: guitar; Chuck Rainey°, John Heard¹ª*, Scotty Edwards¹²³: bass; Roger Barthelemy°³, Eddie Marshallª*, Andre Fisher¹²: drums; Bill Summers°³, Shondo Rondo Akeim¹², Geoff Howe¹, Paulino Da Costa²*, Hal Blaine³ª, Kenny Nashª*: percussion; Eloise Laws³, Stephanie Spruill³, Virginia Ayers³: background vocals; horn section²³.
1979
Intervals20th Century
Sierra Pacific Studios, Los Angeles, CA, 1979.
Tracks: You're Welcome Stop On By; Jordie; So In Love; Reggae; Boatride; My One And Only Love; The Tube; Bones.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; others unknown.
1980
Live At Bubba'sWho's Is Who In Jazz
Bubba's Jazz Restaurant, Fort Lauderdale, FL, May 20, 1980.
Tracks: Waltz For Debby; Folks Who Live On The Hill; People; Baia; The Good Life; Autumn In New York; I've Never Been In Love Before.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; Sabu Adeyola: bass; Payton Crossley: drums.
Night Song
Motown
Hollywood, CA, October 7, 1980.
Tracks: When You Wish Upon A Star; Déjà Vu; Need To Smile; Bad Times; Touch Me In The Morning; Night Song; Theme From M*A*S*H (Suicide Is Painless); Something's Missing In My Life.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: keyboards; Gil Askey: keyboards; Oscar Brashear, Robert O'Bryant: trumpet; Maurice Spears, Garnett Brown: trombone; Pete Christlieb: alto sax; Ernie Fields: baritone sax; Calvin Keys, Greg Poree: guitar; John Heard, Kenneth Burke: bass; Chester Thompson: drums.
1981
Live In Concert '81Personal Choice
'MIDEM', Cannes, France, January 26, 1981.
Tracks: Morning Of The Carnival; One*; Bogota*; Tones For Joan's Bones*; Autumn Leaves.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; Gary Burton*: vibes; Sabu Adeyola: bass; Payton Crossley: drums.
Live In Concert Featuring Gary Burton
Chiaroscuro
1981.
Tracks: Appreciation; My Funny Valentine; Chaga De Saudade; The Night Has A Thousand Eyes; African Flower; One.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; Gary Burton: vibes; Sabu Adeyola: bass; Payton Crossley: drums.
Note: Probably recorded at the same concert in Cannes as previous entry. Two (bootleg?) DVDs of the concert are available: Ahmad Jamal (Music Video Distributors) and Live In Cannes (Alpha Centauri).
1982
Goodbye Mr. EvansShubra
Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA, July 1982.
Tracks: Lament For A Dying Boy; Somewhere Along The Nile; Close Enough For Love; Firely; Mellowdrama; Goodbye Mr. Evans; Polka Dots And Moonbeams; Bluesette.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; Sabu Adeyola: bass; Payton Crossley: drums; Saldon Newton: percussion.
1985
Digital WorksAtlantic
Dallas, TX, 1985.
Tracks: Poinciana; But Not For Me; Midnight Sun; Footprints; Once Upon A Time; One; La Costa; Misty; Theme From M*A*S*H (Suicide Is Painless); Biencavo; Time For Love; Wave.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano, keyboards; Larry Ball: bass; Herlin Riley: drums; Iraj Lashkaryl: percussion.
Live At The Montreal Jazz Festival 1985
Atlantic
Montreal Jazz Festival, Montreal, Canada, July 1985.
Tracks: Yellow Fellow; Make Someone Happy; Acorn; Crossroads; Rossiter Road; 'Round Midnight; Footprints; Ebony.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; James Cammack: bass; Herlin Riley: drums; Seldon Newton: percussion.
1986
Rossiter RoadAtlantic
Skyline Studios, NYC, February 1, 1986.
Tracks: Milan; If I Find The Way; Without You; Acorn; Yellow Fellow; Autumn Rain; Winter Snow; Rossiter Road.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; James Cammack: bass; Herlin Riley: drums; Manolo Bradena: percussion.
1987
CrystalAtlantic
Normandy Sound, Warren, RI, 1987.
Tracks: The Quest For Light°¹; Arabesque°; Avo°¹; Piano Solo 11; For My Daughter°¹; Perugia°¹; The Last Day°¹; Crystal°; Swahililand°¹; The Canteen°¹.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; James Cammack°: bass; David Bowler¹, Willie White¹: drums.
1989
PittsburghAtlantic
Universal Studio, Chicago, IL, 1989.
Tracks: Pittsburgh; Bellows; Mellowdrama; Foolish Ways; Divertimento; Cycles; Fly Away; Apple Avenue.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; James Cammack: bass; David Bowler: drums; Orchestrations by Richard Evans.
1991
Live At Blues Alley BluesAlley
1991.
Tracks: The Quest For Light; A Time For Love; Serenata; You're My Everything/A Certain Smile; Pusher Man; Dreamsville.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; James Cammack: bass; David Bowler: drums; Seldon Newton: percussion.
1992
Live in Paris '92Birdology/Verve
La Salle De Spectacles, Colombes, France, April 3 & 4*, 1992.
Tracks: The Tube; Alone Together/Laura/Wild Is the Wind; Caravan; Easy Living; Acorn; Dreamy*; Appreciation; Look For The Silver Lining; The Aftermath.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; James Cammack: bass; Todd Coolman: bass; David Bowler: drums; Gordon Lane: drums.
Chicago Revisited: Live At Joe Segal's Jazz Showcase
Telarc
Joe Segal's Jazz Showcase, Blackstone Hotel, Chicago, IL, November 13 & 14, 1992.
Tracks: All The Things You Are; Daahoud; Tater Pie; Bellows; Blue Gardenia; Dance To The Lady; Be My Love; Where Are You?; Lullaby Of Birdland.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; John Heard: bass; Yoron Israel: drums.
1994
I Remember Duke, Hoagy & StrayhornTelarc
Studio A, Clinton Studios, NYC, June 2 & 3, 1994.
Tracks: My Flower; I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good); In A Sentimental Mood; Ruby; Don't You Know I Care (Or Don't You Care To Know); Prelude To A Kiss; Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me; Chelsea Bridge; I Remember Hoagy; Skylark; Never Let Me Go; Goodbye.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; Ephriam Wolfolk: bass; Artie Dixson: drums.
Ahmad Jamal With The Assai Quartet
Roesch
Morse Recital Hall, Sprage Memorial Hall, Yale University, New Haven, CT° & Horizon Studios, West Haven, CT¹ & Ahmad Jamal's Home, Millbrook, NY², 1994.
Tracks: Temple Court°; Comp Time°; Feast°; Patouche¹; A Short Piece¹; Pots En Verre: No. 1²; Pots En Verre: No. 2²; Pots En Verre: No. 3²; Pots En Verre: No. 4²; Everybody Knows¹.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; Ephriam Wolfolk: bass; Artie Dixson: drums; Jaroslaw Lis: violin; Peter Bielly: violin; Suzanne Lefevre: viola; Claude Giron: cello.
Note: The 'Pots En Verre' pieces are solo piano.
1994-1995
The Essence Of Ahmad Jamal, Pt. 1Birdology/Verve
Studio Marcadet, La Plaine Saint-Denis, France, October 30 & 31, 1994° & Clinton Studio, NYC, February 6 & 7, 1995¹.
Tracks: Flight°; Toulouse°²; The Essence¹; Lover Man°; Catalina°²; Autumn Leaves¹; Street Of Dreams °; Bahia°².
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; George Coleman¹: tenor sax; James Cammack°, Jamil Nasser¹: bass; Idris Muhammad: drums; Manolo Badrena²: percussion.
Big Byrd: The Essence, Pt. 2
Birdology/Verve
Studio Marcadet, La Plaine Saint-Denis, France, October 30 & 31, 1994° & Clinton Studio, NYC, February 6 & 7, 1995¹.
Tracks: Lament°; There's A Lull In My Life°; Manhattan Reflections¹³; Big Byrd¹ª; Jamie My Boy°²; I Love You°.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; Donald Byrd: trumpetª; James Cammack°, Jamil Nasser¹: bass; Joe Kennedy Jr.³: violin; Idris Muhammad: drums; Manolo Badrena²: percussion.
1996
Live In Paris 1996Birdology
Salle Pleyel, Paris, France, October 26, 1996.
Tracks: Bellows; Patches; Autumn Leaves; Devil's In My Den; There's A Lull In My Life.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; George Coleman: tenor sax; Jeff Chambers: bass; Joe Kennedy Jr.: violin; Calvin Keys: guitar; Yoron Israel: drums; Manolo Badrena: percussion.
1997-1998
Nature: The Essence, Pt. 3Birdology/Atlantic
Studio La Buisonne, Pernes Les Fontaines, France, July 23-25, 1997° & Masuo's Studio, NYC, January 2, 1998¹.
Tracks: If I Find You Again°; Like Someone In Love°; Chaperon¹; Devil's In My Den°*; And We Were Lovers°; Fantastic Vehicle°; The End Of A Love Affair°; Cabin In The Sky/Poor Pierrot/The Reprise°; If I Find You Again°².
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; Stanley Turrentine*: tenor sax; James Cammack: bass; Idris Muhammad: drums; Othello Molineaux²: steel drums.
Note: 'If I Find You again' is a duet by Jamal and Molineaux.
2000
Picture PerfectBirdology
Millbrook Sound Studio, Millbrook, NY, May 20-24° & C.C.I. Cargill Consultants, Inc., Los Angeles, CA, June 6¹, 2000.
Tracks: Building Number 1°; Le Moment De Vérité - The Proving Ground°; Le Rituel - The Ritual°; Whisperings¹*; It Always Happens°; My Latin°²; Spot One°; Picture Perfect¹; Mystifying°; The Blooming Flower°; Ultra Violet°; It's Only A Flower°.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; James Cammack°, Jamil Nasser¹: bass; Idris Muhammad: drums; Marc Cargill: violin*; L. Aziza Miller², O.C. Smith¹: vocal.
À L'Olympía
Birdology
L'Olympía, Paris, France, November 6, 2000.
Tracks: The Night Has A Thousand Eyes; How Deep Is The Ocean?; Autumn Leaves; My Foolish Heart; Appreciation; Aftermath.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; George Coleman: tenor sax; James Cammack: bass; Idris Muhammad: drums.
2002
In Search Of MomentumBirdology
Millbrook Sound Studio, Millbrook, NY, August 22-28, 2002.
Tracks: In Search Of; Should I?; Excerpts From 'I'll Take The 20'; Whisperings; Island Fever; I've Never Been In Love Before; Where Are You?; Where Are You Now?; You Can See; I'll Always Be With You.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; James Cammack: bass; Idris Muhammad: drums.
2003
Live In Baalbeck (DVD)Birdology
Baalbek, Lebanon, July 18 & 19, 2003.
Tracks: Young And Foolish; Where Are You; The Devil's In My Den; I'll Always Be With You; Island Fever; You Can See; Topsy Turvy; The Aftermath; Poinciana; Acorn; Spring Is Here; In Search Of.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; James Cammack: bass; Idris Muhammad: drums.
2004
After FajrBirdology
Centre Des Arts, Enghien, France, July 5-7, 2004.
Tracks: I'm Old Fashioned; After Fajr; Milan; Yours Is My Heart Alone; Swahililand; My Heart Stood Still; Time On My Hands; Topsy Turvy; Manhattan Reflections.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; James Cammack: bass; Idris Muhammad: drums; Donna McElroy: vocal; Tom Baskett: vocal; Paul Stiller: vocal.
2007
It's MagicBirdology
November 25-28, 2007.
Tracks: Dynamo; Swahililand; Back To The Island; It's magic; Wild Is The Wind / Sing; The Way You Look Tonight; Arabesque; Papillon; Fitnah.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; James Cammack: bass; Idris Muhammad: drums; Manolo Badrena: percussions.
2009
A Quiet TimeDreyfus Jazz
Systems Two Recording Studios, Brooklyn, NY, July 9-11, 2009.
Tracks: Paris After Dark; The Love Is Lost; Flight To Russia; Poetry; Hi Fly; My Inspiration; After JALC (Jazz At Lincoln Center); A Quiet Time; Tranquility; The Blooming Flower; I Hear A Rhapsody.
Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; James Cammack: bass; Kenny Washington: drums; Manolo Badrena: percussions.
As A Side Musician
Ray Brown: Some of My Best Friends Are...The Piano PlayersTelarc
Studia A, Clinton Recording Studios, NYC, November 21, 1994.
Tracks: Bag's Groove; Love Walked In; St.Louis Blues.
Personnel: Ray Brown; bass; Ahmad Jamal: piano; Lewis Nash: drums.
Shirley Horn: May The Music Never End
Verve
The Hit Factory, NYC, February 3-5, 2003.
Tracks: Maybe September; This Is All I Ask.
Personnel: Shirley Horn: vocals; Ahmad Jamal: piano; Ed Howard: bass; Steve Williams: drums.
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