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." ~ Scott Yanow