AHMAD JAMAL

AT THE JAZZ SHOWCASE LIVE IN CHICAGO

Resonance Records

Ahmad Jamal, piano/composer; John Heard, bass; Frank Gant, drums.

I grew up listening to Ahmad Jamal.  His Poinciana tune introduced me to jazz about fifteen years before this recording was made in 1976 at the famed Joe Segal, Chicago-based, “Jazz Showcase.”  Ahmad Jamal’s career skyrocketed into the showbusiness universe with his “But Not For Me” album, in 1958.

Producers, Zev Feldman and Joe Alterman have done it again. Their current release of music comes eighteen years after it was recorded. It shows a remarkable escalation of Ahmad Jamal’s talents. Jamal is joined by Frank Gant on drums and the once Los Angeles-based musician, John Heard on upright bass. Heard was originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  I met him in the 1970s, when Heard was performing regularly at the drummer, Al William’s jazz club (The Jazz Sarfari) in Long Beach, California.

During the 70s, living in NYC, Ahmad Jamal’s career was blossoming. He continued becoming a fluent composer. This is called to attention by this album.  He takes nearly fifteen-minutes to play an original tune he titles, “Ahmad’s Song,” but every moment is enjoyable.

“I believe that these performances are truly some of my father’s best,” his daughter, Sumayah Jamal states in Jamal’s press package.

Ahmad Jamal was a master of syncopated space inside his music. This technique actually influenced everybody playing jazz sixty-plus years ago, including Miles Davis.  It was something Jamal borrowed, in part, from Art Tatum’s technique. But Jamal put his own personality into it.  Ahmad inspired a young, McCoy Tyner with his use of electric keyboards in his jazz presentations.  You hear all of this in his 1976 concert.

Clearly, Ahmad Jamal was moving into a new realm when he covered the Herbie Hancock tune, “Dolphin Dance” that opens Disc 2 of this double-disc album set. He delivers his own arrangement of the electronic tune Herbie recorded. Ahmad puts his unique acoustic piano arrangement into place. The Hancock melody skips into my listening room, joyful and projected beautifully from Ahmad Jamal’s 88-key grand piano.

His lovely interpretation of “Prelude to a Kiss” is delightful to the ears. The amazing pianist offers his rendition in a totally orchestral way.  I find it amazing Jamal accomplishes this with just two hands. I had to play this one twice.

Although Ahmad Jamal left Earth April 16, 2023, at the age of 93, this recording is a reminder of his brilliance, his technique, his style and his importance on the jazz scene. It’s a tribute to the “Windy City” that gave him wings, but also to young ears who will hear him, perhaps for the first time, and be inspired by his genius.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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