Ahmad Jamal - Live at the Pershing, Vol. 1

Ahmad Jamal(p)
Israel Crosby(b)
Vernell Fournier(ds)

Ahmad Jamal was really the master of minimalism in the mid-late 50's. His was a style that, at the time, was seemingly reactionary to the abundance of fast, bright, percussive hard-bop that ruled the club circuit. While the music isn't by any means challenging, there are several aspects of it that stand out as absolutely extraordinary: Jamal's use of space and dynamics, Crosby's clever, fluid bass lines that at times seem to have a mind of their own, and Fournier's inventive use of the brushes and almost melodic floor toms. Considering that this is a live recording, the quality control of the music is astounding. These are three men who must have practiced together each and every day from sun up to sun down, and possibly afterwards. Not one noticeable misstep, always on cue, and always brilliantly improvising.