On the 2CD reissue edition of Curtis Mayfield's "Superfly", there is an interview segment with Curtis where he ruminates on much, and he specifically named Jamal (ne Fritz Jones) as a favorite artist. (They were both Chicago guys, so it made sense). So I know Jamal must have had something going on if he impressed Curtis...
While we're touching on the subject of venerable Chicago jazz institutions, "Live at Mr. Kelly's" is a pretty cool doc about the club if you haven't seen it. In the 70's, my father in law was once entrusted to escort Woody Allen there for an evening out.
We traveled similar paths in discovering jazz, I did really like fusion but it took NRBQ leading me to Monk & Sun Ra a few years later to discover the real stuff. I'm not familiar with Ahmad Jamal, will definitely check him out.
I do believe I have read this but loved revisiting it because “Happy Moods” was one of the Jazz albums my Mother played around the house, usually on Sundays when she was off from work and school, and the gateway for me. I just checked to make sure your “Live at The Pershing” is in my phone and will be enjoying it this afternoon as I go ambling around the neighborhood!
"Poinciana" is my all-time number one earworm. I only have to see the title somewhere and it begins, and often continues for the rest of the day. The funny thing is that you didn't even mention it anywhere, but the mere sight of the Pershing album cover was enough. (It's not always the same version though that plays in my head – sometimes it's Ahmad, but sometimes Percy Faith, Esquivel, etc.)
Another hep cat gone....
On the 2CD reissue edition of Curtis Mayfield's "Superfly", there is an interview segment with Curtis where he ruminates on much, and he specifically named Jamal (ne Fritz Jones) as a favorite artist. (They were both Chicago guys, so it made sense). So I know Jamal must have had something going on if he impressed Curtis...
While we're touching on the subject of venerable Chicago jazz institutions, "Live at Mr. Kelly's" is a pretty cool doc about the club if you haven't seen it. In the 70's, my father in law was once entrusted to escort Woody Allen there for an evening out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQ4pOmvWH30
Whoa - I had no idea that this existed thanks!
My eyes and ears opened to jazz after seeing Sun Ra in live performance at the Ann Arbor Blues and Jazz Festival.
We traveled similar paths in discovering jazz, I did really like fusion but it took NRBQ leading me to Monk & Sun Ra a few years later to discover the real stuff. I'm not familiar with Ahmad Jamal, will definitely check him out.
Oh, I think you’ll definitely dig him!
I do believe I have read this but loved revisiting it because “Happy Moods” was one of the Jazz albums my Mother played around the house, usually on Sundays when she was off from work and school, and the gateway for me. I just checked to make sure your “Live at The Pershing” is in my phone and will be enjoying it this afternoon as I go ambling around the neighborhood!
"Poinciana" is my all-time number one earworm. I only have to see the title somewhere and it begins, and often continues for the rest of the day. The funny thing is that you didn't even mention it anywhere, but the mere sight of the Pershing album cover was enough. (It's not always the same version though that plays in my head – sometimes it's Ahmad, but sometimes Percy Faith, Esquivel, etc.)
I especially love Esquivel’s version!