Customer Reviews

Ahmad's Blues: Live At The Spotlight

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4 star:		(1)
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I don't think I risk going off the deep end here by declaring that Ahmad Jamal is simply one of the finest jazz pianists of all time. This CD gives ample proof to that claim. It is a compilation of live recordings made in Chicago in 1958. And the crowd seems most appreciative of the trio's efforts.

Jamal's intelligent use of space and awesome technique give bassist Israel Crosby and drummer Vernel Fournier ample opportunity to display their tremendous talents. Ahmad's use of tension and release marked with his sense of humor makes Jamal's music fascinating. And make no mistake, Jamal swings like mad. Ample proof of this can be heard in the final selection, "Let's Fall in Love."

I've listened to this CD many times over. If you've never heard the amazing and enormously talented Mr. Jamal, there's no better place to start than right here.

Ahmad Jamal is a seminal name in the hallowed annals of jazz piano artistry, and being a big fan of the jazz piano trio, I knew I had to check some out. I read in Fred Hersch's liner notes to Bill Evans' _Trio '64_ that his other favorite trio is this particular one, with bassist Israel Crosby and drummer Vernel Fournier, so this seemed like a must-hear. That it is.

You can see why Miles Davis dug this guy. Jamal just digs into the *groove* of a tune, playing with it, vamping on it, leaving space for his bandmates to inhabit it, and apparently all the while having a rollicking good time. The playing of this trio throughout this 1958 live performance is absolutely distinctive, and that's a bit part of what makes it such compelling listening. There's the signature tune "Ahmad's Blues", which even if you haven't heard it before, you'll think you have. It's that basic, and yet Jamal didn't pull it off some "standards" list. Then there's the standard-of-standards "Autumn Leaves", but what this trio does with it is amazingly creative. You just have to hear it. And who else would start out "Stompin' at the Savoy" with a quote of "La Marsellaise"?? And these are just examples. It's all that good. Don't miss out.

This is a must have for Ahmad Jamal fans, and all Jazz fans for that matter. Throughout his long and storied career, Ahmad has demonstrated both technical virtuosity and amazing style & creativity. This early live recording is no exception. The opening, and title, track is so spot on that it practically defines cool jazz. It stacks right up there with Davis' Kind of Blue as one of the best recordings of the period.

What great music !
Jamal has been on the scene for six decades and his music
is as fresh as ever.
These tracks were taken from previous Argo Recording dates.
The hard to get Portfolio and Ahmad Jamal at the spotlight club. If you dont have these recordings and you
Like Jamal, This CD is a must have.
My favorite tracks are, Ahmads Blues,Autmn Leaves,Taboo and Autumn in New York.
Mose Davis

fantastic, gorgeous, magnificent! Jamal and his partners plays a real lesson of how to do in a jazz trio. The sound of the piano is brilliant and full of swing, the bass and drums are intelligent and full of taste, the atmosphere of the live perofromance precisely preserved in the recording. If you enjoy jazz piano trio, you have to hear this one!

his music is incredible.i have listened to alot of his material.this set is a must have.his timing&space is used really well here.Autumn Leaves&I wish I knew really stand out.this man is a Genius.

`Ahmad's Blues' was a live jazz club recording in Chicago in 1958 originally released by the world-famous Chess Records. This re-mastered MCA CD is enjoyable from first bar to last. Jamal lays back in the groove with Israel Crosby on bass and drummer Vernel Fournier, and gives the obviously appreciative audience a rollicking good time.

Jamal is one of the greatest ever jazz pianists. His virtuoso playing is surprisingly accessible and easy to listen to. This is not just Ahmed and his rhythm section but a tight trio who obviously loved playing together, with space given to the other musicians to shine. The trio work through 16 great numbers; a couple of the band's own compositions (the opening title track and `Seleritus') and improvisation around some well-known icons from the canon - `Autumn Leaves', `Stompin at the Savoy' (listen out for a subtle and witty reference to the French National Anthem) and `Cheek to Cheek' stand out, but there is nothing less than very good here, and much which is truly outstanding.

This is the kind of very high quality, relaxing and almost chill-out CD you can (and probably will) play again and again at home, as background to many activities, in the car and anywhere you care to be accompanied by good music which is not too insistent, doesn't mind if you can't give it your full attention but rewards you if you can. It's in the same general groove as `Kind of Blue' and Cannonball Adderley's `Something Else'.

Miles was a great fan of Jamal's playing, which comes as no surprise.

This is a CD of an old vinyl 33 album. I loved it then, & love it now. Very high quality makes it a pleasure to have in my music collection.

The amount and quality of the music on this disc is astounding. This is Ahmad at his finest. "Ahmad's Blues" and "Autumn Leaves" are worth the money alone. His groove, touch and use of space is all his own. You won't be disappointed.

This CD is of superb tone quality and sounds even better than when I originally heard it on 88.1 radio. It was delivered within the promised amount of days and has encouraged me to order future products from Amazone.