ALBUM REVIEW: Ahmad Jamal, 'Chamber Music of the New Jazz'

After its initial release, Ahmad Jamal Plays, which marked Ahmad Jamal's debut as a bandleader, was reissued as Chamber Music of the New Jazz. The choice of re-introducing the record with this new title is questionable since it seems to contrast the album's actual essence, as it thrives on a mood of serene contemplation, alternating between quiet ballads and playful, swinging moments.

Instead of a traditional piano trio, here Jamal leads a drummer-less trio featuring guitarist Ray Crawford and double bassist Israel Crosby. Together, they create a captivating sound that complements Jamal's inventive rearrangements of standards, alongside his original opening piece, "New Rhumba," and Crawford's own "Jeff."

The intimacy evoked by the recording, with its fusion of classical elements and jazz spontaneity, is dynamic, and fits well within a diverse selection of covers, which ranges from a poignant take on "A Foggy Day" to the upbeat interpretation of "I Get a Kick Out of You," along with "All of You," which carries an almost kitschy charm, while Jamal takes centre stage, skillfully blending virtuosity with melancholy on "Spring Is Here."

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tracklist [Top Tracks in Italics]: 1) New Rhumba; 2) A Foggy Day; 3) All Of You; 4) It Ain't Necessarily So; 5) I Don't Wanna Be Kissed; 6) I Get a Kick Out of You; 7) Jeff; 8) Darn That Dream; 9) Spring Is Here