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This collection brings together the early OKeh and Epic recordings of innovative jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal, recorded between 1951 and 1955. Jamal ushered in a new era of melodic improvisation that stood in sharp contrast to bebop's previous innovations. These recordings were all done in trio settings, where the pianist was accompanied by guitarist Ray Crawford, and either Eddie Calhoun (1951 and 1952) or Israel Crosby on bass. The shimmering solos and light as a feather chord voicings are anything but lightweight. Sharp, harmonic invention, economical yet intuitive phrasing, and a deft sense of time pushed Jamal's star to ascendancy. Standout cuts here are his "Surrey with the Fringe on Top," which extrapolates the melody into new harmonic terrain; the beautiful arrangement of the traditional "Billy Boy"; Fats Waller's "Squeeze Me" with its beautiful ostinato, and Jamal's glorious read of "Perfidia." The sound on this set is gloriously remastered. There are period liner notes by Nat Hentoff, and a moving and appreciative essay by Randy Weston.
© Thom Jurek /TiVo
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Ahmad Jamal, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Piano, Associated Performer, Piano - Oscar Hammerstein II, Composer - R. Rodgers, Composer - Ray Crawford, Guitar - Eddie Calhoun, Bass - Producer not documented on available sources, Producer - John Hammond, Producer
Originally Recorded 1951. All rights reserved by SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Ahmad Jamal, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Piano, Associated Performer, Piano - M.Dennis, Composer, Lyricist - T. Adair, Composer, Lyricist - Ray Crawford, Guitar - Eddie Calhoun, Bass - John Hammond, Producer
Originally Recorded 1951. All rights reserved by SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Ahmad Jamal, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Main Artist, Piano, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Piano - Ray Crawford, Guitar - Eddie Calhoun, Bass - John Hammond, Producer
Originally Recorded 1952. All rights reserved by SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Ahmad Jamal, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Piano, Associated Performer, Piano - A. Schwartz, Composer, Lyricist - L. Robin, Composer, Lyricist - Ray Crawford, Guitar - Eddie Calhoun, Bass - John Hammond, Producer
Originally Recorded 1952. All rights reserved by SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Ahmad Jamal, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Piano, Associated Performer, Piano - Ahmad Jamal, Composer, Lyricist - Ray Crawford, Guitar - Eddie Calhoun, Bass - Producer not documented on available sources, Producer
Originally Recorded 1952. All rights reserved by SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Ahmad Jamal, Arranger, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Piano, Arranger, Associated Performer, Piano - Traditional, Composer, Lyricist - Ray Crawford, Guitar - Eddie Calhoun, Bass - Producer not documented on available sources, Producer
Originally Recorded 1952. All rights reserved by SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Ahmad Jamal, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Piano, Associated Performer, Piano - Producer not documented on available sources, Producer - Duke Ellington, Composer, Lyricist - Ray Crawford, Guitar - Israel Crosby, Bass
Originally released 1956. All rights reserved by Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Ahmad Jamal, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Piano, Associated Performer, Piano - Producer not documented on available sources, Producer - C. Porter, Composer, Lyricist - Ray Crawford, Guitar - Israel Crosby, Bass
Originally released 1956. All rights reserved by Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Ahmad Jamal, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Piano, Associated Performer, Piano - Producer not documented on available sources, Producer - Ray Crawford, Guitar - A. Schwartz, Composer, Lyricist - H. Dietz, Composer, Lyricist - Israel Crosby, Bass
Originally released 1956. All rights reserved by Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Ahmad Jamal, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Piano, Associated Performer, Piano - Producer not documented on available sources, Producer - Ray Crawford, Guitar - Norman J. Simon, Composer, Lyricist - B. Bernier, Composer, Lyricist - Israel Crosby, Bass
Originally Recorded 1955. All rights reserved by SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Ahmad Jamal, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Piano, Associated Performer, Piano - Producer not documented on available sources, Producer - Ray Crawford, Guitar - D. Fields, Composer, Lyricist - Jimmy McHugh, Composer, Lyricist - Israel Crosby, Bass
Originally released 1956. All rights reserved by Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Ahmad Jamal, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Piano, Associated Performer, Piano - Producer not documented on available sources, Producer - Ray Crawford, Guitar - Jacques Prévert, Composer, Lyricist - Joseph Kosma, Composer, Lyricist - Johnny Mercery, Composer, Lyricist - Israel Crosby, Bass
Originally released 1956. All rights reserved by Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Ahmad Jamal, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Piano, Associated Performer, Piano - Producer not documented on available sources, Producer - Ray Crawford, Guitar - George Gershwin, Composer, Lyricist - Ira Gershwin, Composer, Lyricist - Israel Crosby, Bass
Originally released 1956. All rights reserved by Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Ahmad Jamal, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Piano, Associated Performer, Piano - Producer not documented on available sources, Producer - E.Y. Harbourg, Composer, Lyricist - Ray Crawford, Guitar - B. Lane, Composer, Lyricist - Israel Crosby, Bass
Originally Recorded 1955. All rights reserved by SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Ahmad Jamal, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Piano, Associated Performer, Piano - Producer not documented on available sources, Producer - Ray Crawford, Guitar - R. Rodgers, Composer, Lyricist - L. Hart, Composer, Lyricist - Israel Crosby, Bass
Originally Recorded 1955. All rights reserved by SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Ahmad Jamal, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Piano, Associated Performer, Piano - Producer not documented on available sources, Producer - Ray Crawford, Guitar - F.Waller, Composer, Lyricist - C. Williams, Composer, Lyricist - Israel Crosby, Bass
Originally released 1956. All rights reserved by Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Ahmad Jamal, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Piano, Associated Performer, Piano - Producer not documented on available sources, Producer - Ray Crawford, Guitar - B. Russell, Composer, Lyricist - C. Sigman, Composer, Lyricist - Israel Crosby, Bass
Originally Recorded 1955. All rights reserved by SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Ahmad Jamal, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Piano, Associated Performer, Piano - Producer not documented on available sources, Producer - Ray Crawford, Guitar - G. Shelley, Composer, Lyricist - M. Gould, Composer, Lyricist - Israel Crosby, Bass
Originally Recorded 1955. All rights reserved by SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Ahmad Jamal, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Piano, Associated Performer, Piano - Producer not documented on available sources, Producer - Ray Crawford, Guitar - A. Dominguez, Composer, Lyricist - Israel Crosby, Bass
Originally released 1956. All rights reserved by Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Ahmad Jamal, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Piano, Associated Performer, Piano - E. Grenet, Composer, Lyricist - Ray Crawford, Guitar - Israel Crosby, Bass - Producer not documented on available sources, Producer
Originally released 1956. All rights reserved by Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Ahmad Jamal, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Piano, Associated Performer, Piano - Producer not documented on available sources, Producer - Ray Crawford, Guitar - Herbert Stothart, Composer, Lyricist - Robert Friml, Composer, Lyricist - Bob Wright, Composer, Lyricist - Israel Crosby, Bass - Chet Forrest, Composer, Lyricist
Originally released 1956. All rights reserved by Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Album review
This collection brings together the early OKeh and Epic recordings of innovative jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal, recorded between 1951 and 1955. Jamal ushered in a new era of melodic improvisation that stood in sharp contrast to bebop's previous innovations. These recordings were all done in trio settings, where the pianist was accompanied by guitarist Ray Crawford, and either Eddie Calhoun (1951 and 1952) or Israel Crosby on bass. The shimmering solos and light as a feather chord voicings are anything but lightweight. Sharp, harmonic invention, economical yet intuitive phrasing, and a deft sense of time pushed Jamal's star to ascendancy. Standout cuts here are his "Surrey with the Fringe on Top," which extrapolates the melody into new harmonic terrain; the beautiful arrangement of the traditional "Billy Boy"; Fats Waller's "Squeeze Me" with its beautiful ostinato, and Jamal's glorious read of "Perfidia." The sound on this set is gloriously remastered. There are period liner notes by Nat Hentoff, and a moving and appreciative essay by Randy Weston.
© Thom Jurek /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 21 track(s)
- Total length: 01:15:34
- Main artists: Ahmad Jamal
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Epic - Legacy
- Genre: Jazz
Originally Recorded 1951, 1952, 1955. All rights reserved by SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT, (P) 2005 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
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