b. Frederick Russell Jones, 2nd July, 1930, Pittsburgh, Pennysylvania, U.S.A.
d. 16th April 2023, Ashley Falls, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
Based in Los Angeles until his passing, Ahmad Jamal began playing professionally in Pittsburgh when he was 11.
In the late '40's he joined George Hudson's Orchestra.
In 1951 he formed his first trio, the Three Strings, a group with guitarist Ray Crawford and bassist Eddie Calhoun.
ahmad jamal plays - 1955 / but not for me - 1958
Israel Crosby took Calhoun's place in 1955.
In 1956 Jamal switched to a piano-bass-drums trio with Walter Perkins replacing Crawford.
The trio broke up in 1962 but Jamal continued growing as a pianist (sometimes doubling on electric piano in the 1970's).
Ahmad Jamal made an impression on the UK 'jazz funk' scene with albums for 20th Century Records.
night song - 1980 / genetic walk - 1980
These included 'Ahmad'Jamal' in 1975, including 'The World Is A Ghetto' and 'Superstition' (co-produced by Richard Evans), 'One' in 1978 and 'Genetic Walk' in 1980 (featuring 'La Costa' and 'Don't Ask My Neighbours') before his switch to Motown for 'Night Song' in 1980, including his version of, the Isaac Hayes tune, 'Deja Vu'.
Ahmad Jamal has recorded through the years for Epic, Argo / Cadet, Impulse, Catalyst, 20th Century, Motown Records, Atlantic and Telarc.
Ahmad died in Aprin 2023, at the age of 92.
Albums:
Piano Scene (Epic Records 1951)
Poinciana [live] (Portrait Records 1952)
Chamber Music of New Jazz (Argo Records 1955)
Ahmad Jamal Trio (Epic Records 1955)
Count 'Em: 88 (Argo Records 1956)
But Not for Me (Affinity Records 1958)
Ahmad Jamal at the Pershing, Vol. 1 [live] (Argo Records 1958)
At the Pershing: But Not for Me (Chess Records 1958)
Ahmad Jamal at the Pershing, Vol. 2 [live] (Argo Records 1958)
Ahmad Jamal Trio, Vol. 4 (Argo Records 1958)
Ahmad's Blues (Chess / GRP Records 1958)
The Portfolio of Ahmad Jamal (Argo Records 1958)
Ahmad Jamal at the Penthouse [live] (Argo Records 1959)
Happy Moods (Argo Records 1960)
Listen to the Ahmad Jamal Quintet (Argo Records 1960)
All of You (Argo Records 1961)
Alhambra [live] (Argo Records 1961)
Ahmad Jamal at the Blackhawk [live] (Argo Records Records 1961)
Macanudo (Argo Records Records 1962)
Naked City Theme (Argo Records 1963)
The Roar of the Greasepaint (Argo Records 1965)
Extensions (Argo Records 1965)
Heat Wave (Cadet Records 1966)
Rhapsody (Cadet Records 1966)
Cry Young (Cadet Records 1966)
Standard Eyes (Cadet Records 1967)
The Bright, the Blue and the Beautiful (Cadet Records 1968)
Tranquility (Impulse! Records 1968)
At the Top: Poinciana Revisited [live] (Impulse! Records 1969)
Re-Evaluations: The Impulse Years (Impulse! Records 1974)
Ahmad Jamal (20th Century Records 1975)
Superstition (20th Century Records 1975)
One (20th Century Records 1978)
Genetic Walk (20th Century Records 1980)
Night Song (Motown Records 1980)
The Best of Ahmad Jamal (20th Century Records 1980)
At His Very Best (Pair Records 1989)
At His Best (Essex Records 1992)
The Essence of Ahmad Jamal, Pt. 1 (Verve Records 1994)
Sound of Jazz (Intercontinent Records 1996)
Priceless Jazz (GRP Records 1998)
Cross Country Tour: 1958-1961 (GRP Records 1998)
Baia (Jazz Time Records 1999)
Volume 26 (Galaxy Sound Records 1999)
Les Incontournables (Wea Records 2000)
Autumn in New York (International Records 2001)
