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One of the latest podcasts from the All About Jazz website has an interview with Ahmad Jamal. The host asks Jamal if he ever tires of playing "those old songs," like his most famous songs Poinciana and But Not for Me. Jamal says "There's no such thing as old music. It's either good or bad. And you never tire of good music."
Often it is the test of time that provides proof that a particular song is great, and not just in style today. I often ask myself when listening to new music: "Am I likely to want to listen to this 50 years from now?" If the answer is "probably not" then I usually pass. I'd rather spend my money on music that I will want to listen to over and over again.
"There's no such thing as old music. It's either good or bad. And you never tire of good music." -- Ahmad Jamal
There are two Ahmad Jamal albums I never tire of. First is Live at the Pershing: But Not For Me. This is one of those recordings that stands the test of time, even though Jamal was never that famous like some of his contemporaries. Jamal's fluid and melodic playing on Poinciana is flawless, and Vernell Fournier's drumming on the toms is exquisite. Then of course there is the wonderfully fast-swinging "But Not For Me" which starts the album.
The other Jamal album I never tire of is Awakening. This is a very different album, much more modern in style. The title is a Jamal original and it starts the album. The first few chords played by Jamal are captivating. There's also a nice version of Hancock's "Dolphin Dance" on the album.
It's no wonder Miles Davis was one of Jamal's biggest fans. Imagine having Miles Davis as your fan! As Jamal says in the podcast, they lived just a couple blocks from each other but they never recorded together because they were too busy leading their own bands. That's unfortunate for us because that could have been a great meeting of artistic minds.
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