Label: Verve / Polygram
Recorded at Studios Marcadet, La Plaine Saint-Denis, France and
Clinton Studios, New York between October 1994 & February 1995
Jazz
The elements that made The Essence Part One such a success - bright, crisp, rhythmically alive piano work often revolving around a tense bass ostinato and propulsive percussion - are abundantly present on Part Two, which was drawn from the same Paris and New York sessions but released a year after its predecessor. In no way is this a collection of leftovers; the quality level is so high that one can only conclude that marketing considerations alone prevented The Essence from being issued as a double album in the first place. Jamal fields two trios, anchored on bass by James Cammack in the Paris sessions and former colleague Jamil Nasser in the New York ones and by drummer Idris Muhammad on both. Everyone gets an extra jolt of momentum whenever the Afro-Latin percussion of Manolo Badrena goes into action, and violinist Joe Kennedy Jr. adds a potent, slightly raw-edged solo voice to "Manhattan Relfections." A muted, skittering Donald Byrd appears only on the title track - hence its name - which winds its way through several tempo changes and dramatically charged sections over a vast 15-minute timespan. Into his mid-60s, Jamal remained as distinctive and inventive a pianist as ever, with delightful surprises lurking around every bend.
By Richard S. Ginell, All Music Guide.
**
I read a review of this album which suggested that Ahmad Jamal was a bit lazy, that he wasn't 'giving it everything'. What nonsense. He builds beautiful and interesting progressions, Manhattan Reflections being a prime example. Big Byrd #2 is a quality album, one you can put on and listen to the whole darn thing without skipping a track. It is also rare in that Jamal retains all the hip jazz style of 50's/60's/70's but that it still sounds 'modern' in the 90's contrast this with McCoy Tyner's "Infinity", and you'll know what I mean. Big Byrd #2 is one of Ahmad Jamal's finest offerings, and one of my all-time favorite jazz recordings.
**
Ahmad Jamal- (Piano);
Donald Byrd- (Trumpet);
Joe Kennedy, Jr.- (Violin);
Jamil Nasser, James Cammack- (Bass);
Idris Muhammad- (Drums);
Manolo Badrena- (Percussion).
**
01. Lament (8:59)
02. There's A Lull In My Life (6:38)
03. Manhattan Reflections (8:35)
04. Big Byrd (15:12)
05. Jamie My Boy (9:36)
06. I Love You (8:31)
**
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