Ahmad Jamal Trio - "But Not For Me" Live at the Pershing

TroyK · #1 11-21-2008, 12:11 PM

I picked a very clean LP copy of this up for $3 yesterday. These early Ahmad Jamal Trio recordings are a bit dated, but I every time I hear one I'm amazed at how good they are. Isreal Crosby plays so nicely; efficient, purposeful, tasteful, very hip and very precise. I would almost say that he's the Miles Davis of jazz bass. Very economical, but right on the point with his note choices and phrasing. It almost take courage to play that sparsely.

That trio with Vernell Fournier was really tight too. Great communication going on, very musical.

Whether it's your thing or not, I suggest checking some of that stuff out if you haven't heard it. It will have relevance to whatever you do like, I'm sure.

I think transcribing those Isreal Crosby lines is a great exercise for bassist who are: 1) Trying to learn standards 2) Trying to learn to play with a 2 feel (that question comes up now and again) or 3) anyone trying to learn to slow down and allow more space.

Just thought I would share. I noticed that I was in the post-first-listen-to-a-really-good-record glow.

MR PC · #2 11-22-2008, 02:22 PM

Those bass recordings/performances occupy a good section my personl Jazz DB Rosetta Stone.

Paul Warburton · #3 11-22-2008, 06:08 PM

QUIZ: What John Lewis composition does Israel quote repeatedly in the head of But Not For Me ?

No Dono, Marcus, Durrl or Ed!!!!!!!!

Paul Dwyer · #4 11-22-2008, 06:47 PM

"The Golden Striker"?

Michael Eisenman · #5 11-22-2008, 06:59 PM

If you don't have or can't find the album, I found it on last.fm. Full tracks you can listen to. I'm enjoying it.

Paul Warburton · #6 11-22-2008, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Dwyer

"The Golden Striker"?

And, you got it Paul!
I see in your profile that Percy's one of your favorite bass players....you better have got it!

**Jeremy Allen** · #7 11-22-2008, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TroyK

These early Ahmad Jamal Trio recordings are a bit dated, but I every time I hear one I'm amazed at how good they are.

Yeah, "a bit dated" like a Bach cello suite or a Beethoven string quartet!

Paul Warburton · #8 11-22-2008, 11:33 PM

Or, Bird or Miles.....or?

TomSauter · #9 11-22-2008, 11:39 PM

That cd was an eye opener for me...i bought it when i first started playing and I listened to it once or twice. Then I pulled it out again after about 10 years and I couldn't believe how much second-hand Israel Crosby stuff I'd gotten from other players over the years. He sure influenced a wide range of players too.

msw · #10 11-23-2008, 07:51 AM

Paul (Warburton), speaking of John Lewis songs and great bass-playing, how come you never mention "Our Delight" your 1986 duo record on Capri with Dale Bruning? As soon as I finish typing this I am going to put it on the turntable, drink some coffee and listen to all of side 2 . Has it ever been issued on CD?

**Jeremy Allen** · #11 11-23-2008, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomSauter

I couldn't believe how much second-hand Israel Crosby stuff I'd gotten from other players over the years. He sure influenced a wide range of players too.

I remember playing in a community orchestra with Marty Belu (I bet you know him, msw!) and admitting I hadn't heard of Israel Crosby; at the next rehearsal, Marty gave me tapes of all that stuff and said "just pass them on to another bass player when you're done" (this was at a time when that stuff hadn't been reissued and it was kind of hard to find). Ever since then, Israel Crosby has been a special "gift" I love to pass on to students if they haven't heard of him. (Same with Red Mitchell and Henry Grimes.)

Paul Warburton · #12 11-23-2008, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msw

Paul (Warburton), speaking of John Lewis songs and great bass-playing, how come you never mention "Our Delight" your 1986 duo record on Capri with Dale Bruning. As soon as I finish typing this I am going to put it on the turntable, drink some coffee and listen to all of side 2 . Has it ever been issued on CD?

Thanks honey..You might contact Capri Records. No CD.
A few vinyls available...do a Google search.
SORRY about OT, this isn't about me.....I dearly LOVE these beautiful sides. Ahmad is one of Miles favorite players. Me too. Over the years i've played these records for many drummers, to give them an idea on how to play dynamically in a trio setting.
I had the joyful experience of hearing Israel live with George Shearing many years ago.
Simple ain't easy!

By the way, Poinciana, is one of the most definative musical statements i've EVER heard.
Good for your ears to memorize AND sing along with.

msw · #13 11-23-2008, 08:40 AM

I sure do know Marty Ballou, he is one of my best friends.
I knew some older Boston musicians who used to hire Israel Crosby to work at George Wein's Storyville in the 1950's. They told me that they would ask him to walk 8 as the intro to most of the tunes just so the could listen to his amazing melodic walking lines. They also said it was nearly impossible to come in after 8 because they wanted him to just keep going and going!

TroyK · #14 11-24-2008, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy Allen

Yeah, "a bit dated" like a Bach cello suite or a Beethoven string quartet!

Right and don't get me wrong, I love this trio. Only warning anyone for whom jazz bass begins with LaFarro and ends with Moffit that they'll have to listen with open ears.

Ed Fuqua · #15 11-24-2008, 10:44 AM

Everybody hip to this record? VERY nice playing and, if you check out the repertoire, it seems to be the playlist for pretty much anything Miles later recorded for Prestige....

damonsmith · #16 11-24-2008, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

Everybody hip to this record? VERY nice playing and, if you check out the repertoire, it seems to be the playlist for pretty much anything Miles later recorded for Prestige....

I read an old interview with Miles Davis and he said all he was doing was sitting around and waiting for the next Ahmad Jamal record to come out.

MingusAmongUs · #17 11-24-2008, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by damonsmith

I read an old interview with Miles Davis and he said all he was doing was sitting around and waiting for the next Ahmad Jamal record to come out.

This fits with what I've been told. Miles was aiming for precisely this sound (plus a little more) when he put together the 50's quintet. Apparently he got a lot of his selections from these records too: Surrey, Woody n' You, No Greater Love, etc.

Edit: Sorry Ed. I saw Damon's post before yours.... and then I basically repeated what you said. another superfluous post.

MingusAmongUs · #18 11-24-2008, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

Everybody hip to this record? VERY nice playing and, if you check out the repertoire, it seems to be the playlist for pretty much anything Miles later recorded for Prestige....

Thanks for the heads up on that.... merry Christmas to me.

anonymous02282011 · #19 11-24-2008, 01:23 PM

check this out:

http://www.amazon.com/Ahmads-Blues-A...d_bxgy_m_img_b

a little more subtle, very tasteful and beautiful playing by the trio. Crosby sound huge and his time and melodic sensibility is gorgeous. Vernel Fournier shows off his brushwork, as expected. The version of Autumn Leaves sounds like it could've been recorded yesterday.

Don Higdon · #20 12-01-2008, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TroyK

I picked a very clean LP copy of this up for $3 yesterday. These early Ahmad Jamal Trio recordings are a bit dated, but I every time I hear one I'm amazed at how good they are.

To demonstrate the age difference: I bought the LP when it first came out.
This was when Miles stunned the jazz world by announcing in a Down Beat interview that Oscar Peterson's playing made him sick. It was quite a rant. Direct, clear, and without a shred of diplomacy. He went on to rave about Ahmad Jamal, especially his sense of space, demonstrated so eloquently in the Pershing album. Naturally, we all ran out to buy it.