Ahmad Jamal Chicago Revisited: Live At Joel Segal's Jazz Showcase CD

Although it had been more than 40 years since his debut recording, pianist Ahmad Jamal's playing was as viable as ever in the 1990s. Teamed up with bassist John Heard and drummer Yoron Israel for this live Telarc CD, Jamal plays a particularly inspired repertoire that includes "All the Things You Are," Clifford Brown's "Daahoud," John Handy's "Dance to the Lady" and "Be My Love" among its nine selections. Jamal's style had developed since his early days, but his basic approach was unchanged while still sounding quite fresh. This date is an excellent example of Ahmad Jamal's unique sound and highly appealing music in the '90s. ~ Scott Yanow

Recorded live at Joe Segal's Jazz Showcase in the Blackstone Hotel, Chicago, Illinois on November 13-14, 1992. Includes liner notes by Neil Tesser.

Personnel: Ahmad Jamal (piano); Yoron Israel (drums).

Liner Note Author: Neil Tesser.

Recording information: Joe Segal's Jazz Showcase (Blackstone Hotel), Chicago, (11/13/1992-11/14/1992).

Editor: Paul Zinman.

Photographer: Frank Micelotta.

Unknown Contributor Role: Barbara Pease Renner.

Personnel: Ahmad Jamal (piano); John Heard (bass); Yoron Israel (drums).

Down Beat (5/93, p.34) - 4 Stars - Very Good - "...as a trio, the group shares space, with Heard and Israel soloing between the pianist's segments. With this album, it seems that Jamal has come home..."
Musician (6/93, p.92) - "...Jamal's way of approaching an improvisation turns standards like `All The Things You Are' into a series of graceful variations...a virtuoso of space and dynamic contrast..."