Cross Country Tour: 1958-1961 [Live]

Ahmad Jamal | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 7, 1998)
• Original Release Date: 1958
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Live
• Label: Chess
• ASIN: B000006EJ4
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #54,731 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At The Pershing...and more -- Inspired Miles Davis!, January 1, 2003

By 

William E Donoghue "Fessor Mojo" (Healdsburg CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cross Country Tour: 1958-1961 (Audio CD)

The first sides are from the classic "Ahmad Jamal at the Pershing" which was as essential listening in its way as "Kind of Blue." Miles was inspired by the selection of show tunes, many of which he also recorded later with Red Garland playing the Ahmad Jamal role on piano. I think it was not so much what Jamal played but what he did not play. His use of space was phenomenal. Vernell Fournier was a New Orleans drummer and Isreal Crosby had played and recorded with Benny Goodman. Together they reinvented jazz for a decade. This LP, by the way, and not Muddy Waters recording was what put Chess Records (Argo's parent) on the map financially. So thank Jamal for the other music that he funded. Classic stuff and never enough of it.
Bill Donoghue

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of The Greatest Trio's Ever!!, June 11, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cross Country Tour: 1958-1961 (Audio CD)

If you've ever wondered where the light sound in jazz came from, here it is. Miles Davis cites Ahmad Jamal as one of his primary influences. This is what confident, un-self-conscious jazz sounds like. Listening to this album is an experience not easily forgotten. With all the talk about pianists like Bill Evans and Oscar Peterson, Jamal's minimalist approach to jazz piano is like a cool breeze. So, take a breath

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars tightest...band...ever!, December 13, 2002

By 

greg toro (a place) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cross Country Tour: 1958-1961 (Audio CD)

From a musician's standpoint, this band displays more interplay in one chorus of a tune than some bands have in a lifetime. The almost psychic connection between the trio is amazing to listen to. They pull changes in tempo, feel, time signature, breaks, hits, they do it all without flinching. Israel Crosby is one of the most underrated bassists of all time. Just listening to the first few tunes shows that these guys could not only spice up standards, but they did it as a unit. Although there is very little stretching out (most of these tunes are barely more than 3 minutes), everyone gets a piece of the action in a way that's more than satisfying. If you're looking for the tightest band ever, here it is.