Customer Reviews

Live at Montreal 1985

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1 star:		(1)

 

 

I bought this recording on tape years ago and I think that it is one of Ahmad Jamal's best work. The album is recorded live. The format is a percussion dominante quartet (2 out of 4 members) that starts with "Yellow Fellow" (13 min.) the piece has a fast tempo and Jamal counters the strong visual movement of the percussion. "Yellow Fellow" is why I bought the cd and tape originally. The next two "Make Someone Happy" and "Acorn" are slower with the first cut a solo and "Acorn" having a distinct meandering quality that creates a defined mood. "Crossroads" returns to the upbeat tempo with a penetrating journey that lends itself to more abstract qualities. "Rossiter Road" has more of a medium beat that builds to a cresendo and has some stylized characteristics and is a worthy piece. The classic "Round Midnight" is flighty and moody and complex. "Footprints" uses percussion and piano to portray a sense of free association that is interesting and complex. The last cut,"Ebony", is slow at the start and builds to a strong end.
I thing ths is a great example of Ahmad Jamals talents as a jazz pianist.

I am a huge Ahmad Jamal fan and have many of his releases both on CD and on vinyl. I found this in a used bin the other day and thought what a good one I had found.

I put it on the 'table and was horrified that the mix was so bad that I found it un-listenable. Drums and percussion so far forward and the piano so far back in the mix that Mr. Jamal's likely brilliant playing can not be heard.

Go for Digital Works instead!