| Groundbreaking work from the legendary Ahmad Jamal -- not just in his own career, but in live jazz in general! The album's a classic recording of Jamal's trio with Israel Crosby on bass and Vernell Fournier on drums -- captured at the Pershing Lounge on the south side of Chicago, where Jamal was clearly wowing the crowd with his amazing talents on the piano. The groove here is sublimely fluid and soulful -- clearly the next wave of expression on the piano in the 50s, and as important to the Chicago scene as Bill Evans was to that of New York at the time. The recording quality is wonderful -- clear enough to capture the subtleties of Crosby's amazing bass, and the lightly tippling sound of Fournier's drums -- and the CD features both volumes of this historic set, a total of 20 tracks in all. Titles include a classic extended reading of "Poinciana", plus "What's New", "But Not For Me", "Billy Boy", "All The Things You Are", "Woody N You", "It Might As Well Be Spring", "It's You Or No One", and "No Greater Love". Also features the bonus single version of "Poinciana".
Recorded at the Pershing Lounge, Chicago, January 16 and 17, 1958. |