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AHMAD JAMAL Chicago Revisited TELARC JAZZ CD-83327

 

 

1. All the Things You Are
2. Daahoud
3. Tater Pie
4. Bellows
5. Blue Gardenia
6. Dance to the Lady
7. Be my love
8. Where are You
9. Lullaby of Birdland

Ahmad Jamal - Piano
John Heard - Bass
Yoron Israel - Drums

Ahmed Jamal has been on the jazz scene for a long time, he played in Miles Davis’s Band for a long period and is acknowledged as being one of the trumpet player’s favourite pianists. On this showing it is easy to see why, he is always creating new lines, his version of All the Things You Are is unlike any other I have heard, but it is not weird or so far out that you can’t tell what the tune is!

I have a great admiration for American drummers and bass players, they understand the role of accompanying the soloist better than their European counterparts, with some outstanding exceptions, I must add. Martin Drew’s playing with Oscar Peterson has always been a delight for me. At times John Heard and Yoron Israel just tick along, but they create an enormous amount of swing, equally they are both good soloists when that is required.

This album was recorded live at Joe Segal’s Showcase in Chicago on November 13-14, 1992, it is a shame it took till now to be released, but many congratulations to Telarc for dusting it off and putting it in the record shop. Jahmal’s work has been described as being like chapters in a book as the story develops, he will pursue one line with a tune and then switch into a new approach. His style has been described as sparse but I don’t find it so, to me he just sounds like a very good pianist, who has an admirable technique and an endless flow of ideas. He came on the scene just after the bebop era, but I don’t think his work can be categorised, he is just Ahmad Jamal. A unique figure in jazz.

The sound quality throughout is excellent, Telarc’s direct digital recording techniques have obviously paid off.

A favourite track, well I liked them all, but for me Lullaby of Birdland stole the show,

Ahmad’s version of George Shearing’s most famous composition is a stunner, it contains overtones of Gillespie style Latin and many other influences.

I highly recommend this record.

Don Mather

 

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