Ahmad Jamal - At the Pershing...I Don't Get It
i'm part way through listening to it, and i really don't get why it's so revered. every track so far seems to follow the same pattern: right hand only melody over bass and drums, some more right hand trinkle-ing in the upper register (mostly little figures that he repeats several times each), some driving middle-register block chords with both hands, possibly some more trinkling in the upper register, and a restatement of the melody.
now, was ahmad so revolutionary because he had the open texture instead of a stride or driving bop sound? because by today's (or even bop era) standards it's pretty tame and predictable. i'm giving him some credit that he had to "smooth" it out somewhat for the swank hotel audience, but still. for the moment, i'll still take red garland and horace silver any day.
does anyone else share my opinion? or have reason for me to reverse it?
There are 4 comments, leave a comment.
to me, that era of ahmad is some of the most revolutionary and creative piano playing, ever. a quiet revolution, of course, but a very, very free and unique conception of form and arrangement. also, extremely swinging, tasteful, and a lot of textural variety. he plays like a composer.
check out "poinciana" - not only aj, but how the bass (israel crosby) and drums (vernell fournier) fit in with the groove. that drum pattern with the ride cymbal on 2 and 4 is a classic - and not easy to nail!
a love supreme" recording... if that was the only recording i listened to i would still not be a fan today.... i like almost all his other recordkings more.
point being check out ohter aj recordings.... one of my favs is "digital works"... anything that has a straight accoustic trio version of "wave" on it.
Jazz Piano Notebook Series
Volume 1 of this educational jazz piano book contains 15 jazz piano exercises, tricks, and other interesting jazz piano techniques, voicings, grooves, and ideas Scot Ranney enjoys playing.
"Latinesque"
Volume 2 has 14 jazz piano exercises and tricks of the trade, and quite a bit of it is Calypso jazz piano related material, including some Monty Alexander and Michel Camilo style grooves. Jazz piano education is through the ears, but books like this can help.
Volume 3 contains 12 jazz piano exercises and explorations by the acclaimed jazz piano educator, pianist, author, and recording artist Tim Richards.
Tim wrote the well known "Exploring Jazz Piano" and "Improvising Blues Piano" books and has several others to his name.
Volume 4 is by Jeff Brent, a jazz pianist, composer, teacher, and author of "Modalogy" and other acclaimed jazz theory and education books. In this book Jeff shares detailed analysis of transcriptions of live performances. He covers everything from the shape of the songs to the tricks and licks he uses in improvised lines to the ideas behind his lush chord voicings.
Most Recent Discussions
Articles
Piano for Adoption Scam
Aprender Jazz en Piano
BEWARE: FREE BABY GRAND PIANO SCAM
Oh Tannenbaum for Jazz Piano
Volume 5 of the "Jazz Piano Notebook Series" is Available!
LearnJazzPiano.com File Downloads News
more...
Top Sheetmusic Picks
Jazzy Christmas Arrangements
Cocktail Piano
Best Songs Ever, 6th Edition
Christmas Medley
Moana Songbook
Late Night Jazz Piano
Jazz piano education is cool.
Rock on. Follow your passion.
Sign In
LearnJazzPiano.com Copyright © 1995-2024 by Scot Ranney • website software and design by scot's scripts
LearnJazzPiano.com is For Sale - Serious Inquiries Only