Ahmad Jamal: But Not For Me

[Late]

As much as I've been enjoying The Three Sounds this summer, this Jamal album is on another level. I think perhaps it's Vernell Fournier that I respond to in particular. The Three Sounds were a trio—a fully functioning unit that responded to each other—and so were Jamal, Israel Crosby, and Vernell Fournier. Phew! What a vibe. (The 2016 Japanese SHM-CD sounds really, really good.) I'm listening right now. Soooo good.

I'm sure there are other fans of this album here. For me, it's Jamal's Kind of Blue. 

[jlhoots]

25 minutes ago, Late said:

As much as I've been enjoying The Three Sounds this summer, this Jamal album is on another level. I think perhaps it's Vernell Fournier that I respond to in particular. The Three Sounds were a trio—a fully functioning unit that responded to each other—and so were Jamal, Israel Crosby, and Vernell Fournier. Phew! What a vibe. (The 2016 Japanese SHM-CD sounds really, really good.) I'm listening right now. Soooo good.

I'm sure there are other fans of this album here. For me, it's Jamal's Kind of Blue. 

[Brad]

13 hours ago, Late said:

As much as I've been enjoying The Three Sounds this summer, this Jamal album is on another level. I think perhaps it's Vernell Fournier that I respond to in particular. The Three Sounds were a trio—a fully functioning unit that responded to each other—and so were Jamal, Israel Crosby, and Vernell Fournier. Phew! What a vibe. (The 2016 Japanese SHM-CD sounds really, really good.) I'm listening right now. Soooo good.

I'm sure there are other fans of this album here. For me, it's Jamal's Kind of Blue. 

Listened to this recently.  Such beautiful playing. Makes me regret not buying the Mosaic. 

Edited July 2, 2022 by Brad

[medjuck]

1 hour ago, Brad said:

Listened to this recently.  Such beautiful playing. Makes me regret not buying the Mosaic. 

One of the first jazz Lps I ever bought --some 60 years ago.  When I got more into jazz I learned it was frowned upon by hipsters. 

[Late]

3 hours ago, medjuck said:

When I got more into jazz I learned it was frowned upon by hipsters. 

Hipsters don't know how to smile. 

[JSngry]

Only how to smirk 

[GA Russell]

My first two jazz LPs were on the Cadet label, in 1966, immediately after the name was changed from Argo.

I remember how this Jamal was prominently featured on the inner sleeve.

[Brad]

On 7/2/2022 at 11:05 AM, medjuck said:

One of the first jazz Lps I ever bought --some 60 years ago.  When I got more into jazz I learned it was frowned upon by hipsters. 

We’re hip to it so that’s all that matters. 

[Teasing the Korean]

Great record!  I found this and a lot of other Ahmad Jamal albums for a dollar in the 1990s.  

[porcy62]

20 hours ago, Teasing the Korean said:

Great record!  I found this and a lot of other Ahmad Jamal albums for a dollar in the 1990s.  

Yep, I bought a dozen of Jamal original pressings for almost nothing compared to BN, Prestige Riverside, ecc. . Argo’s Jazztett was ridiculous cheap as well.

[Teasing the Korean]

1 hour ago, porcy62 said:

Yep, I bought a dozen of Jamal original pressings for almost nothing compared to BN, Prestige Riverside, ecc. . Argo’s Jazztett was ridiculous cheap as well.

Jazz piano trios had a real audience between the late 1950s and late 1960s, if all the cheap second-hand LPs I've found are any indication.

Anyone know if Live at the Pershing Vol. 2 is from the same sessions, or was it recorded later as a follow-up?

Edited July 5, 2022 by Teasing the Korean

[mikeweil]

ARGO LP667 was from the same session.

47 minutes ago, Teasing the Korean said:

Anyone know if Live at the Pershing Vol. 2 is from the same sessions, or was it recorded later as a follow-up?

 

[Teasing the Korean]

16 minutes ago, mikeweil said:

ARGO LP667 was from the same session.

Thanks.  Would have made a great twofer CD, assuming both would fit.

EDIT:  I see there is one of these.  I'm assuming it is a grey market release?

Edited July 5, 2022 by Teasing the Korean

[mikeweil]

There are some Spanish reissues doing just that ....

[Teasing the Korean]

1 hour ago, mikeweil said:

There are some Spanish reissues doing just that ....

Are they legit?  Were the masters for any of these albums lost in the Universal fire?

 

[JSngry]

This is a good reason to buy a Mosaic set. You don't have to listen to it all at once, you can have the cumulative material available from the best sources to do with what you like...which is most likely what those "Spanish" labels are doing, at a price to you, the unsuspecting buying population.

[Teasing the Korean]

58 minutes ago, JSngry said:

This is a good reason to buy a Mosaic set. You don't have to listen to it all at once, you can have the cumulative material available from the best sources to do with what you like...which is most likely what those "Spanish" labels are doing, at a price to you, the unsuspecting buying population.

Maybe the Spanish label is cloning the Mosaic set.  If so, this option is cheaper than buying a second-hand box.

[JSngry]

Cheaper, yes. In every way.

[Teasing the Korean]

6 minutes ago, JSngry said:

Cheaper, yes. In every way.

If it is indeed a digital clone, I don't really care.  Then again, I have so many of his LPs as it is, digital is probably not high on my priority list.  

[mikeweil]

You never know. Some are cloning other reissues like the Mosaic, some are needle drops. In this case I would clearly recommend the Mosaic. I never regretted buying it. More than 20 previously unissued tracks that so far have not been cloned, and a more complete picture of the trio, e.g. a few Fournier solos.

A real big lot of excellent music!

[jazzbo]

I agree with Mike 100 percent. I have some Argo LPs of the Jamal Trio. . .I love them, they were unfortunately far too loved before I got to them. Every copy I have come across is noisier than this refined trio with space in the music warrants. The Mosaic set sounds wonderful and is quiet quiet quiet.

[mikeweil]

6 minutes ago, jazzbo said:

I agree with Mike 100 percent. I have some Argo LPs of the Jamal Trio. . .I love them, they were unfortunately far too loved before I got to them. Every copy I have come across is noisier than this refined trio with space in the music warrants. The Mosaic set sounds wonderful and is quiet quiet quiet.

Same with my used LPs I once bought i Paris. Loved and played and played and played again. The Mosaic sounds great, except for the first album. Their source was a Japanese needle drop - my vintage US LP copy sounds much better. 

[Teasing the Korean]

Several of these titles, as well as the Mosaic box, are inexpensively available as lossless downloads from Qobuz.  That may be a better route.

[mikeweil]

Listen to samples and look where they are coming from - if they are from the Yurpeeans, watch out!

These are the reissues I was talking about:

I have one set from the label of the last two boxes (Enlightenment - Ramsey Lewis) that really sounds inferior. 

Edited July 5, 2022 by mikeweil

[Teasing the Korean]

3 hours ago, mikeweil said:

Listen to samples and look where they are coming from - if they are from the Yurpeeans, watch out!

Well, it says Verve, including the Mosaic box.  I assume those are safe?