Label: Grp
Jazz
Ahmad Jamal's 1970 release of The Awakening is perhaps one of the most innovative West Coast jazz albums ever made by this man. Jamal is one of the most influential jazz pianists of the second half of the twentieth century, and has made his mark on both young and old people alike. He is, in many ways, like Keith Jarrett in his use of the entire range of the keyboard, which is clearly heard in all of the songs in this album. Featuring Jamil Nasser on bass and Frank Gant on drums, the trio really does work as a trio, each part being treat equally as opposed to a piano with a bass-drums accompaniment. The pieces on this album all have the Jamal feel, and yet, in a magical way, still retain the original style from Jobim's bossa nova tune, "Wave" or Hancock's standard, "Dolphin Dance". All the tracks on this album are beautifully written, and are a very thorough and accurate representation of Ahmad Jamal as we know him.
THE AWAKENING - The title track is a very upbeat, moderately-paced tune with a modern feel, written by Jamal himself. It is built off of a four-note phrase that changes constantly throughout the piece with wonderful blues type interludes. There are several times when Jamal uses some very clever scales and arpeggios that cover the entire keyboard within a second, and this piece left me astounded.
I LOVE MUSIC - This, in my opinion, is the best track no this CD, simply for its utter harmonic beauty. It has brought a tear to my eye more than once, and is very reminiscent of some of Ellington's later works. This song is basically a piano solo with a small interlude featuring the bass and drums, and has some of the most heart-wrenching chord changes I've ever heard. It is a sad, yet powerful song that can completely change one's mood, and is am excellent example of Jamal's ability to play with such commanding grace.
PATTERNS - A faster paced tune, this is a true Jamal song, and is very typical of Jamal's unique style. The bass and drums in this piece are particularly commendable, and keep the vibrant beat of the song moving throughout the entire piece.
DOLPHIN DANCE - One of Herbie Hancock's more romantically lyrical pieces, Jamal plays a sped up version as compared to the original. This is one of the better tracks on the album, and, once again, Jamal combines his own technique with that of Hancock's.
YOU'RE MY EVERYTHING - As the liner notes state, "The only old standard of the set, a 1931 ballad, introduced in a long forgotten revue called `The Laugh Parade', this became the title song for a 1949 movie in which Dan Dailey sang it. Jamal moves straight into the Harry Warren melody, playing it in a long meter. Despite the many ingenious melodic and rhythmic shifts with which he invests it, the original theme is never too far out of earshot" (Feather 8).
STOLEN MOMENTS - Oliver Nelson's classic is once again brought to life in a faster-paced version of this 1960's tune. Jamal grabs the essence of the spirit of the piece, drawing in the listener to listen even more carefully, as he uses dramatic chromatic chord changes, and once again coming back to the lovely primary theme at the end of the track.
WAVE - One of Antonio Carlos Jobim's more obscure works, Jamal, brings this piece out into the open with the definitive bossa nova feel "without any of the obvious Brazilian clichés" (Feather 8). The beckoning and delightful mood of this piece is rather catchy and is well appreciated by Latin and jazz fan alike.
Cannonball Adderley once said, "Ahmad's not like the average jazz musician who uses the pop tune as a vehicle. He approaches each number as a composition in itself, and tries to work out something particular for each tune that will fit it." This is a very true statement, and is obviously exemplified by the stunning work Jamal has created with these sole seven songs. I would highly recommend this music to all jazz fans of all kinds. His voluntary and authoritative use of combining the bass and drums (Nasser and Gant, I might add, are two musicians that are highly worthy of praise for their skills) provide the listener with a different feel to the music after listening. This album represents a specific feel and approach towards jazz, and is some of the most beautiful music I have ever heard. Ahmad Jamal is one of the greatest pianists of all time, and his unique approach should be exposed to the world to grasp a better understanding of what it means to be a great jazz musician.
By Cameron Rochette.
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Ahmad Jamal, Piano
Jamil Nasser, Bass
Frank Gant, Drums
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01. The Awakening 6:21
02. I Love Music 7:22
03. Patterns 6:18
04. Dolphin Dance 5:09
05. You're My Everything 4.44
06. Stolen Moments 6:32
07. Wave 4.25
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