RIP Ahmad Jamal (92), cool jazz pianist/keyboardist

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Ahmad Jamal, the influential jazz pianist and composer, passed away at the age of 92 due to prostate cancer at his home in Ashley Falls, Massachusetts. His innovative chamber jazz style significantly impacted the genre, with notable recordings such as his interpretation of “Poinciana.” Renowned trumpeter Miles Davis cited Jamal's artistry in his autobiography, highlighting the profound inspiration he drew from Jamal's unique approach to music, particularly in the recording of "New Rhumba" on his 1957 album Miles Ahead.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of jazz music and its subgenres
  • Familiarity with influential jazz artists and their contributions
  • Knowledge of music composition and arrangement techniques
  • Awareness of the historical context of jazz evolution
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  • Explore the discography of Ahmad Jamal, focusing on key albums like "Poinciana"
  • Research the impact of chamber jazz on contemporary music
  • Study the works of Miles Davis, particularly his interpretations of Jamal's compositions
  • Investigate the role of space and phrasing in jazz performance
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Jazz enthusiasts, music historians, composers, and anyone interested in the evolution of jazz and its influential figures.

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https://www.latimes.com/obituaries/story/2023-04-16/ahmad-jamal-dead-92

Ahmad Jamal, a pianist, composer and arranger whose innovative, chamber jazz style had a powerful impact on his contemporaries while gaining widespread popularity via such recordings as his bestselling interpretation of “Poinciana,” has died, according to the New York Times. He was 92.

Jamal died Sunday of prostate cancer at his home in Ashley Falls, Mass., his daughter, Sumayah Jamal, confirmed to the New York Times.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/16/obituaries/ahmad-jamal-jazz-dead.htmlhttps://www.npr.org/2023/04/16/846207919/ahmad-jamal-obituary

Jamal's influence and admirers spread far and wide in jazz. For instance, Miles Davis found enormous inspiration in his work: In his 1989 autobiography, Miles, the legendary trumpeter said that Jamal "knocked me out with his concept of space, his lightness of touch, his understatement, and the way he phrases notes and chords and passages." Miles went on to record Jamal's "New Rhumba" on his classic 1957 recording Miles Ahead.
 
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