The Legendary Okeh & Epic Sessions by Ahmad Jamal - DeepRiffs

ALBUM

This collection brings together the early OKeh and Epic recordings of innovative jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal, recorded between 1951 and 1955. Jamal ushered in a new era of melodic improvisation that stood in sharp contrast to bebop's previous innovations. These recordings were all done in trio settings, where the pianist was accompanied by guitarist Ray Crawford, and either Eddie Calhoun (1951 and 1952) or Israel Crosby on bass. The shimmering solos and light as a feather chord voicings are anything but lightweight. Sharp, harmonic invention, economical yet intuitive phrasing, and a deft sense of time pushed Jamal's star to ascendancy. Standout cuts here are his "Surrey with the Fringe on Top," which extrapolates the melody into new harmonic terrain; the beautiful arrangement of the traditional "Billy Boy"; Fats Waller's "Squeeze Me" with its beautiful ostinato, and Jamal's glorious read of "Perfidia." The sound on this set is gloriously remastered. There are period liner notes by Nat Hentoff, and a moving and appreciative essay by Randy Weston.
© Thom Jurek /TiVo

1. The Surrey With The Fringe On Top (Album Version)

Bass: Eddie Calhoun; Performer
Primary Artist: Ahmad Jamal; Main Performer
Guitar: Ray Crawford; Performer
Performer: Ahmad Jamal; Performer
Piano: Ahmad Jamal; Performer
Composer: Oscar Hammerstein Ii
Richard Rodgers
R. Rodgers; Composer
Producer: Producer Not Documented On Available Sources
John Hammond; Production

2. Will You Still Be Mine (Album Version)

Primary Artist: Ahmad Jamal; Main Performer
Bass: Eddie Calhoun; Performer
Guitar: Ray Crawford; Performer
Performer: Ahmad Jamal; Performer
Piano: Ahmad Jamal; Performer
Composer: T. Adair
M. Dennis; Composer
Lyricist: T. Adair
M. Dennis; Composer
Producer: John Hammond; Production

4. A Gal In Calico (Album Version)

Primary Artist: Ahmad Jamal; Main Performer
Bass: Eddie Calhoun; Performer
Guitar: Ray Crawford; Performer
Performer: Ahmad Jamal; Performer
Piano: Ahmad Jamal; Performer
Composer: L. Robin
Alex Schwartz
A. Schwartz; Composer
Lyricist: L. Robin
Alex Schwartz
A. Schwartz; Composer
Producer: John Hammond; Production

5. Aki And Ukthay (Album Version)

Primary Artist: Ahmad Jamal; Main Performer
Bass: Eddie Calhoun; Performer
Guitar: Ray Crawford; Performer
Performer: Ahmad Jamal; Performer
Piano: Ahmad Jamal; Performer
Composer: A. Jamal; Composer
Lyricist: A. Jamal; Composer
Producer: Producer Not Documented On Available Sources; Production

6. Billy Boy (Album Version)

Bass: Eddie Calhoun; Performer
Primary Artist: Ahmad Jamal; Main Performer
Guitar: Ray Crawford; Performer
Performer: Ahmad Jamal; Performer
Piano: Ahmad Jamal; Performer
Arranger: Ahmad Jamal; Composer
Composer: Traditional; Composer
Lyricist: Traditional; Composer
Producer: Producer Not Documented On Available Sources; Production

7. Black Beauty (Album Version)

Primary Artist: Ahmad Jamal; Main Performer
Bass: Israel Crosby; Performer
Guitar: Ray Crawford; Performer
Performer: Ahmad Jamal; Performer
Piano: Ahmad Jamal; Performer
Composer: Duke Ellington; Composer
Lyricist: Duke Ellington; Composer
Producer: Producer Not Documented On Available Sources; Production

9. Something To Remember You By (Album Version)

Primary Artist: Ahmad Jamal; Main Performer
Bass: Israel Crosby; Performer
Guitar: Ray Crawford; Performer
Performer: Ahmad Jamal; Performer
Piano: Ahmad Jamal; Performer
Composer: H. Dietz
Alex Schwartz
A. Schwartz; Composer
Lyricist: H. Dietz
Alex Schwartz
A. Schwartz; Composer
Producer: Producer Not Documented On Available Sources; Production

10. Poinciana (Album Version)

Primary Artist: Ahmad Jamal; Main Performer
Bass: Israel Crosby; Performer
Guitar: Ray Crawford; Performer
Performer: Ahmad Jamal; Performer
Piano: Ahmad Jamal; Performer
Composer: Norman J. Simon
B. Bernier; Composer
Lyricist: Norman J. Simon
B. Bernier; Composer
Producer: Producer Not Documented On Available Sources; Production

11. Don't Blame Me (Album Version)

Primary Artist: Ahmad Jamal; Main Performer
Bass: Israel Crosby; Performer
Guitar: Ray Crawford; Performer
Performer: Ahmad Jamal; Performer
Piano: Ahmad Jamal; Performer
Composer: Dorothy Fields
Jimmy Mchugh
D. Fields; Composer
Lyricist: Dorothy Fields
Jimmy Mchugh
D. Fields; Composer
Producer: Producer Not Documented On Available Sources; Production

12. Autumn Leaves

Primary Artist: Ahmad Jamal; Main Performer
Bass: Israel Crosby; Performer
Guitar: Ray Crawford; Performer
Performer: Ahmad Jamal; Performer
Piano: Ahmad Jamal; Performer
Composer: Johnny Mercery
Joseph Kosma
Jacques Prévert; Composer
Lyricist: Jacques Prévert
Joseph Kosma
Johnny Mercery; Composer
Producer: Producer Not Documented On Available Sources; Production

14. Old Devil Moon

Primary Artist: Ahmad Jamal; Main Performer
Bass: Israel Crosby; Performer
Guitar: Ray Crawford; Performer
Performer: Ahmad Jamal; Performer
Piano: Ahmad Jamal; Performer
Composer: E.y. Harbourg
B. Lane
E.y. Harburg; Composer
Lyricist: E.y. Harbourg
B. Lane
E.y. Harburg; Composer
Producer: Producer Not Documented On Available Sources; Production

15. It's Easy To Remember (Album Version)

Primary Artist: Ahmad Jamal; Main Performer
Bass: Israel Crosby; Performer
Guitar: Ray Crawford; Performer
Performer: Ahmad Jamal; Performer
Piano: Ahmad Jamal; Performer
Composer: Lorenz Hart
Richard Rodgers
L. Hart
R. Rodgers; Composer
Lyricist: Lorenz Hart
Richard Rodgers
L. Hart
R. Rodgers; Composer
Producer: Producer Not Documented On Available Sources; Production

16. Squeeze Me (Album Version)

Primary Artist: Ahmad Jamal; Main Performer
Bass: Israel Crosby; Performer
Guitar: Ray Crawford; Performer
Performer: Ahmad Jamal; Performer
Piano: Ahmad Jamal; Performer
Composer: F. Waller
Clarence Williams
C. Williams; Composer
Lyricist: F. Waller
Clarence Williams
C. Williams; Composer
Producer: Producer Not Documented On Available Sources; Production

18. Pavanne (Album Version)

Primary Artist: Ahmad Jamal; Main Performer
Bass: Israel Crosby; Performer
Guitar: Ray Crawford; Performer
Performer: Ahmad Jamal; Performer
Piano: Ahmad Jamal; Performer
Composer: M. Gould
G. Shelley; Composer
Lyricist: M. Gould
G. Shelley; Composer
Producer: Producer Not Documented On Available Sources; Production

19. Perfidia (Album Version)

Primary Artist: Ahmad Jamal; Main Performer
Bass: Israel Crosby; Performer
Guitar: Ray Crawford; Performer
Performer: Ahmad Jamal; Performer
Piano: Ahmad Jamal; Performer
Composer: A. Domínguez; Composer
Lyricist: A. Domínguez; Composer
Producer: Producer Not Documented On Available Sources; Production

20. Rica Pulpa (Album Version)

Primary Artist: Ahmad Jamal; Main Performer
Bass: Israel Crosby; Performer
Guitar: Ray Crawford; Performer
Performer: Ahmad Jamal; Performer
Piano: Ahmad Jamal; Performer
Composer: E. Grenet; Composer
Lyricist: E. Grenet; Composer
Producer: Producer Not Documented On Available Sources; Production

21. The Donkey Serenade (Album Version)

Primary Artist: Ahmad Jamal; Main Performer
Bass: Israel Crosby; Performer
Guitar: Ray Crawford; Performer
Performer: Ahmad Jamal; Performer
Piano: Ahmad Jamal; Performer
Composer: Robert Friml
Chet Forrest
Bob Wright
Herbert Stothart; Composer
Lyricist: Bob Wright
Chet Forrest
Robert Friml
Herbert Stothart; Composer
Producer: Producer Not Documented On Available Sources; Production

3. Ahmad's Blues

Primary Artist: Ahmad Jamal; Main Performer
Bass: Eddie Calhoun; Performer
Guitar: Ray Crawford; Performer
Performer: Ahmad Jamal; Performer
Piano: Ahmad Jamal; Performer
Composer: Ahmad Jamal; Composer
Lyricist: Ahmad Jamal; Composer
Producer: John Hammond; Production

8. Love For Sale (Album Version)

Primary Artist: Ahmad Jamal; Main Performer
Bass: Israel Crosby; Performer
Guitar: Ray Crawford; Performer
Performer: Ahmad Jamal; Performer
Piano: Ahmad Jamal; Performer
Composer: C. Porter; Composer
Lyricist: C. Porter; Composer
Producer: Producer Not Documented On Available Sources; Production

13. They Can't Take That Away from Me (Album Version)

Primary Artist: Ahmad Jamal; Main Performer
Bass: Israel Crosby; Performer
Guitar: Ray Crawford; Performer
Performer: Ahmad Jamal; Performer
Piano: Ahmad Jamal; Performer
Composer: Ira Gershwin
George Gershwin; Composer
Lyricist: Ira Gershwin
George Gershwin; Composer
Producer: Producer Not Documented On Available Sources; Production

17. Crazy He Calls Me (Album Version)

Primary Artist: Ahmad Jamal; Main Performer
Bass: Israel Crosby; Performer
Guitar: Ray Crawford; Performer
Performer: Ahmad Jamal; Performer
Piano: Ahmad Jamal; Performer
Composer: Sidney Russell
Carl Sigman
B. Russell
C. Sigman; Composer
Lyricist: Sidney Russell
Carl Sigman
B. Russell
C. Sigman; Composer
Producer: Producer Not Documented On Available Sources; Production

Technical Specifications

Volume

1 volume only

Tracks

21 tracks available

Type

ALBUM

Format

Digital Media

Duration

1 hour, 15 minutes and 43 seconds

Explicit

None

Coverart

Available and up to 600x600 px

Booklet

Not available

Max Quality

CD Quality (Lossless)

16bit / 44.1 kHz

Stereo

Audio Extension

Lossless: FLAC, M4A, WAV, WV, AIFF

Lossy: AAC, MP3, M4A, MP4, OGA, OGG, OPUS, WMA

Archive Format

Available in these formats: ZIP, TAR, RAR

Lyrics

13/21 tracks have lyrics

Synchronized Lyrics

No synced lyrics found

Genres

Jazz, Hard Bop, Jazz Piano

Label

Epic

Music Distribution Service

Sony

Country

United States

Language

No linguistic content

Popularity

Release Date

Jul 25, 2005

Track Preview

Available

Delivery Charge

Free

Delivery Method

Digital download link via Email or Personal Dashboard on this site

UPC

5099752023721