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Ahmad Jamal

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Ahmad Jamal was an American jazz pianist, composer and bandleader. He was born Frederick Russell Jones in Pittsburgh in 1930. He began playing piano at three, had lessons at seven and at eleven was already playing études by Liszt. At fourteen he played professionally and Art Tatum called him a future great. In 1950 he moved to Chicago. Around that time he converted to Islam and took the name Ahmad Jamal.

Music and breakthrough

He made his first records in 1951 with The Three Strings, a trio of piano, guitar and bass. After a performance in New York producer John Hammond signed him to Okeh. His big breakthrough came with the live album At the Pershing: But Not for Me, recorded in 1958 with bassist Israel Crosby and drummer Vernel Fournier. It spent 108 weeks in the bestseller chart. Poinciana on that album became his best-known track. In the 1960s he settled in New York, and later he also played electric piano.

Influence

Jamal played in an understated way, with a lot of space, a light touch and a strong sense of rhythm. Miles Davis said he was impressed by this, and had his own musicians listen to Jamal. In this way Jamal had a great influence on a Cool Jazz that used rhythm and silence as an instrument. He later received a Grammy for his life's work.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Poinciana from At the Pershing and notice the space between the notes and how the rhythm of bass and drums carries the piano.

Discography

Studio albums

Other work

In School of Rock

The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.

See also

Categories: ArtistsCool Jazz and modal jazzModal jazz