This fascinating date features pianist Ahmad Jamal at the beginning of his recording career. With guitarist
Ray Crawford and either
Eddie Calhoun or
Israel Crosby on bass, Jamal showcases a style that would be a major influence on
Miles Davis' music. Jamal's use of space and dynamics was very different than the style of any other jazz pianist of the era. His versions of "Old Devil Moon," "Will You Still Be Mine?," "The Surrey with the Fringe on Top," and "A Gal in Calico" inspired
Miles to record the songs in a similar fashion, and his "Billy Boy" became the basis of a performance by
the Red Garland Trio. Most fascinating is Jamal's inventive interpretation of "Pavanne," for it has a section very reminiscent of "So What" (which was not "composed" by
Davis until over two years later) and a melody statement that is exactly the same as
John Coltrane's "Impressions."
-Allmusic
I would highly recommend this album. I recently bought this album, and i rarely buy jazz albums, but this has been in my music rotation a ton. I don't know a whole lot about Jazz in general, but this album will blow your mind.
