Ahmad Jamal
A Quiet Time
Dreyfuss Jazz Records
www.disquesdreyfus.com
By George W. Harris

When you listen to music like this by the indefatigable Jamal, you
can’t help but think to yourself, “since the young Miles Davis was so
captivated by Jamal’s sound and style, how would he have sounded in his
later years if he had progressed in that milieu instead of plugging in
and going the electronic route?” This disc adds further fuel to that
query, as Jamal’s spacious, spare and exotic fingering has grown and
matured into something that has its own life. He’s been working with
the team of James Cammack/b, Manolo Badrena (ex-Weather Report)/perc,
and Kenny Washington/dr, for quite some time, and together they have
synapse-like synchronicity on tunes like “Paris After Dark” and
“Tranquility.” The gently driving rhythm of “After JALC” is punctuated
by Jamal’s perfectly timed and placed chords, like a chariot driver
snapping the whip at just the right time, while his take of Randy
Weston’s “Hi Fly” is filled with space, complimented with thoughtful
prances on the ivories. It’s simply stunning how good Jamal still
sounds, and he’s stayed true to his musical calling.