Ahmad Jamal, acclaimed jazz pianist

Ahmad Jamal

Ahmad Jamal was born on this date in 1930. He is an African-American jazz pianist.

Born in Pittsburgh, PA., he has been a professional musician since he was 11. In his early years (the late 1940s) Jamal joined trumpeter George Hudson's orchestra. The pianist formed his first trio, The Three Strings, in 1951. This trio consisted of piano, guitar and bass. Erroll Garner's melodic technique was an early influence on him. While his crossover success might have buried his reputation in some jazz circles, Jamal's simplicity in his music had a major impact on late 1950s cool jazz.

In 1958, his trio recorded "Ahmad Jamal at The Pershing," which became a huge seller and yielded his notable take on "Poinciana." Miles Davis was an outspoken admirer of Jamal's ease and sense of space. The trumpeter began including Jamal's tunes in his own performances and directed Red Garland to duplicate his sound. Even though Jamal built his reputation on his trio recordings, he has continued to work with different assemblies. In the 1970s, he began experimenting with electronic instruments and has also collaborated with orchestras.

Currently he continues to tour and record regularly exclusively for the French Birdology label, and his releases are on Verve and Atlantic in the United States. Jamal is an exclusive Steinway piano artist.

Reference:
Jazz People
by Harry N. Abrams, Incorporated, New York
Copyright 1976
ISBN 0-8109-1152-3