Chess Records is synonymous with the Chicago electric blues scene of the 50s, when iconic names such as Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry came to prominence, helping to establish Leonard and Phil Chess’ Windy City indie label as one of America’s leading proponents of R&B music. At 89, Jamal is one of the last giants from jazz’s golden age of the 50s who’s still active musically. present) ( 1 child). Waltzer, Ben. [17] In 1962, The Three Strings disbanded and Jamal moved to New York City, where, at the age of 32, he took a three-year hiatus from his musical career. After leaving Hudson, he joined swing violinist Joe Kennedy's group the Four Strings, with whom he stayed until Kennedy's departure around 1950. Currently, he can be heard on the audio book version of "The Marvelous Effect" published by Berkley Trade, as well as in Simon & Schuster's "Fatherhood" by Bill Cosby. Faculty, staff, and students are entitled to 10% off of any ticket they purchase to the Ahmad Jamal WCLK benefit concert. I am so sorry for the lost of your brother, friend, father and son. The pianist admits it was a mammoth task whittling several hours of music down to the 30 minutes or so required for a single album release. He'd come back and throw things out at you, directly from what you played. Find out who sampled his work. ‘Poinciana’ goes on and on and on… it was a gift to me.”, Just how important the song became for the pianist is reflected in the fact that it’s been an ever-present feature of his live performances for over 60 years. Listen to the original musical work and the piece in which it was sampled. He also said his religion had brought him peace of mind about his race, which accounted for his "growth in the field of music that has proved very lucrative for me. One of his most long-standing gigs was as the band for the New Year's Eve celebrations at Blues Alley in Washington, D.C., from 1979 through the 1990s. "[32], Saxophonist Ted Nash described his experience with Jamal's style in an interview with Down Beat magazine: "The way he comped wasn't the generic way that lots of pianists play with chords in the middle of the keyboard, just filling things up. Our Love and deepest Sympathy to all the Family. Ahmad Jamal recalls how that happened. It transcended all categories. His short film, "This Old Man," received critical acclaim on the theater festival circuit.In addition to his television credits, Warner made his feature film debut in Paramount Pictures' "Drop Zone," and was also seen in Warner Bros' Pictures "Fools Gold" opposite Matthew McConaughey, Kate Hudson, and Donald Sutherland. Then, after moving to Chicago, in 1948, he was eventually discovered by visionary record producer John Hammond, the patrician entrepreneur who had brought Billie Holiday to prominence and later helped to bring Aretha Franklin and Bob Dylan to the attention of the wider world. He has used the name Ahmad Jamal since his conversion to Islam in the early 1950s. [7] In 1950 he moved to Chicago[11] and performed intermittently with local musicians Von Freeman and Claude McLin, and solo at the Palm Tavern, occasionally joined by drummer Ike Day. Talking to uDiscover Music from his home in New England, Jamal casts his mind back 67 years to reminisce about a special event he performed at. Ahmad Jamal official: HISTORY. Unlike some jazz pianists, Jamal didn’t feel the urge to create a gushing, uninterrupted torrent of notes; he opted for a more conversational style with natural pauses between phrases. Macnie, Jim. 9 . Malcolm-Jamal Warner (born August 18, 1970) is an American actor, director, producer, musician, and writer. Wang, Richard and Barry Kernfeld. Miles Davis was a big fan and covered several of Jamal’s tunes, including ‘Ahmad’s Blues’ and ‘The Surrey With The Fringe On Top (on the Workin’ and Steamin’ albums, respectively), and ‘New Rhumba’, recorded on the trumpeter’s Gil Evans-arranged orchestral album Miles Ahead, in 1957. Basic Jazz Record Library, NPR. Jaleel White, Actor: Family Matters. [11] He joined another touring group known as The Four Strings, which disbanded when violinist Joe Kennedy Jr. The way he played, people thought we had two drummers. ", Walz, Jay. Ed. The word I used to use is avant garde; that might not be right. Such was the song’s appeal that Chess released it as a single, and it soon rocketed up the US charts. I recall how much he loved his family, and he spoke often of his children. Ahmad Jamal (born Frederick Russell Jones, July 2, 1930) is an American jazz pianist, composer, bandleader, and educator. “Life changed and it’s constantly changing as a result. In 1958, Jamal took up a residency in the lounge of the Pershing Hotel in Chicago. It captured Jamal’s then trio (with Israel Crosby on bass and Vernell Fournier on drums) during their residence at The Pershing Hotel in Chicago during January 1958. There was an attempt to get Cannonball, Miles and I on record but it was not successful. [3] Jamal began formal piano training at the age of seven with Mary Cardwell Dawson, whom he describes as greatly influencing him. “It was my first appearance at Carnegie Hall but I’m the only one of the headliners still living.” He says this with a tinge of wistfulness, adding, “So now, at 89 pushing 90, I value every moment because none of us are getting out of here alive.”. A jazz fan interviewed by Down Beat magazine about Jamal in 2010 described his development as "more aggressive and improvisational these days. "Jamal, Ahmad". To Plant Memorial Trees in memory, please visit our. We were also neighbours. Good article though. "Pianist-Investor Is A Hit in Cairo: Jazz Musician Ahmad Jamal Finds Moslem Faith Aids Him on African Visit". “I could write volumes about that,” laughs Jamal. Whatever you call it, the way he plays is the essence of what jazz is. Musing on why it resonated with so many people, the pianist attributes it to the power of music: “It’s contagious. I had the privilege of working with him on an overseas project, in India, over a decade ago. But it was the longer live version from At The Pershing that made Jamal’s name. Colin Larkin (ed.). These stylistic choices resulted in a unique and new sound for the piano trio: "Through the use of space and changes of rhythm and tempo", writes Crouch, "Jamal invented a group sound that had all the surprise and dynamic variation of an imaginatively ordered big band. Currently co-starring in the CBS sitcom titled "Listen Up" alongside, Fronts the LA jazz-funk band Miles Long, which plays under Warner's label, Wonder Factory (June 2000), Best known by the public for his role as Theo Huxtable on, Revealed that he had a wonderful relationship with, [on Bill Cosby's sexual assault allegations] While I certainly don't condone what Bill has been accused of, I feel those universities were vindictive in taking back his honorary doctorate; I believe, despite everything, he's actually earned that - if not before, then definitely since. The rewards of well over 50 years at his craft are earned and appropriate; his stately demeanor seems at one with his comfortable surroundings. A milestone in jazz, ‘At The Pershing: But Not For Me’ became “one of the biggest records in the history of Chess”. He is best known for his roles as Theodore Huxtable on the NBC sitcom The Cosby Show and as Malcolm McGee on the UPN sitcom Malcolm & Eddie.He also starred as Dr. Alex Reed in the sitcom Reed Between the Lines.He currently stars as Dr. AJ Austin on the FOX medical drama The Resident. "[26] These (at the time) unconventional techniques that Jamal gleaned from both traditional classical and contemporary jazz musicians helped pave the way for later jazz greats like Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock, and McCoy Tyner. While touring in Detroit, where there was a sizable Muslim community in the 1940s and 1950s, he became interested in Islam and Islamic culture. When we were at The Pershing, he was downstairs in another room they built for music, so he was able to come upstairs and see my group.”, The idea to record a live album in the lounge of the Pershing Hotel was Jamal’s own. I was never the practitioner in the sense of twelve hours a day, but I always thought about music. [2] He began playing piano at the age of three, when his uncle Lawrence challenged him to duplicate what he was doing on the piano. He was named after Malcolm X and legendary jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal. He converted to Islam and changed his name to Ahmad Jamal in 1950. Print. Its defining characteristic was his supremely delicate touch, resulting in crystalline, right-hand filigrees. Warner first rose to national prominence by starring on the celebrated and long-running classic television series "The Cosby Show." Print. He says them in Arabic in keeping with the Muslim tradition."[14]. At The Pershing: But Not For Me was much more than a record: it was a phenomenon. Ahmad Jamal Shabazz a native of St Joseph, LA. “That album sold over one million copies and is still selling.” There is a palpable sense of incredulity in Jamal’s voice, as if he still can’t comprehend the record’s success and astounding longevity. Find out who sampled his work. Jamal also studied with pianist James Miller and began playing piano professionally at the age of fourteen,[5] at which point he was recognized as a "coming great" by the pianist Art Tatum. Biography Early life. Jamal's recording of the well known song "Poinciana" was first released on this album. Would you like SAMPLE the legendary Ahmad Jamal? The trio released the live album, At the Pershing: But Not for Me, which stayed on the Ten Best-selling charts for 108 weeks. “Not often do we have instrumental hits, but ‘Poinciana’ is still being emulated,” says Jamal. "Intricacy & Groove: At Home with Ahmad Jamal". The rewards of well over 50 years at his craft are earned and appropriate; his stately demeanor seems at one with his comfortable surroundings. Survived by his wife of forty years, Beverly Shabazz and 7 children. In 1985, Jamal agreed to do an interview and recording session with his fellow jazz pianist, Marian McPartland on her NPR show Piano Jazz. The Three Strings arranged an extended engagement at Chicago's Blue Note, but leapt to fame after performing at the Embers in New York City where John Hammond saw the band play and signed them to Okeh Records. Enjoy the video of Ahmad Jamal - One - at Jazz à Vienne, in HD : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yw25ZPVvMo4&list=UUynDWen7sleNWJDZ3MBcHEA Ahmad Jamal … His favorite rock group is Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah. [31] He says his style evolved from drawing on the techniques and music produced in these three eras. "[30] From an early age, Jamal developed an appreciation for the lyrics of the songs he learned: "I once heard Ben Webster playing his heart out on a ballad. "Jamal, Ahmad". Jamal, who said he rarely plays "But Not For Me" due to its popularity since his 1958 recording, played an improvised version of the tune – though only after noting that he has moved on to making ninety percent of his repertoire his own compositions. - IMDb Mini Biography By: It's really quite engaging. His jazz-funk band Miles Long has performed in several major jazz festivals, including the Playboy Jazz Festival, and has opened for high profile artists including Earl Klugh and the late Luther Vandross, and he recently performed at the historic Apollo Theater. I asked him, 'Why did you stop, Ben?' Waltzer, Ben. Between 1956 and 1968, Ahmad Jamal recorded 21 albums for Chess via their Argo and Cadet imprints. Stream ad-free or purchase CD's and MP3s now on Amazon. Following bebop greats like Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, Jamal entered the world of jazz at a time when speed and virtuosic improvisation were central to the success of jazz musicians as artists. There was also a plethora of other live recordings for the label, among them Portfolio Of Ahmad Jamal, recorded at Washington, DC’s Spotlite Club; Ahmad Jamal’s Alhambra (where the pianist was captured at a Chicago restaurant that he owned in the early 60s); and Ahmad Jamal At The Blackhawk, featuring a performance from a popular San Francisco jazz haven.
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