Friday, October 24, 2008

Ahmad Jamal - "Freeflight" (1971) & discography




Effendi - excerpt 


Manhattan Reflections - excerpt 

I talked about this album - Ahmad Jamal's first on which he played the fender rhodes - in the context of the "Steppin Out With A Dream" post the other week, so have a read at that link about where it sits in his career. I was a little disappointed with the quality of the available rip that I'd linked to in the discography, so thought I would upload my own copy.

It's recorded live at the Montreux Jazz Festival in July 1971. In the tracks "Effendi" and "Manhattan Reflections", Jamal establishes the main themes on acoustic piano then begins to solo on rhodes. He's somewhat enamoured with the instrument's on-board tremelo/LFO (the "pulsing" effect) and you can hear drummer Frank Gant setting complex snare drum patterns against the effect.

The dense, mid-range clouds of rhodes chords allow space for bassist Jamil Suleiman Nasser to improvise in his upper range. Jamal returns to the piano for more percussive sections and theme reprisals. Apart from the two rhodes tracks, there's a nice cover of Herbie Hancock's "Dolphin Dance", and an extended version of one of Jamal's best-known tracks, "Poinciana".


Note that the Jamal blog discography (copied again below) has expanded since that last post, thanks to some uploads by Wallofsound from Inconstant Sol, and also reader Art Simon.



DOWNLOAD WAV - MP3

TRACKLIST

01 'Introduction' (0:53)
02 'Effendi' (11:27) - McCoy Tyner
03 'Dolphin Dance' (4:48) - Herbie Hancock
04 'Manhattan Reflections' (10:00) - Ahmad Jamal
05 'Poinciana' (11:28) - B. Bernier, M. Lliso, N. Simon

MUSICIANS

Piano, Fender Rhodes - Ahmad Jamal
Bass - Jamil Sulieman
Drums - Frank Gant

PRODUCTION

Impulse AS-9217
Producers - Ed Michel, Ahmad Jamal
Recording Engineers - Stephen Sulke, Carlos Olms
Recorded in performance at the Montreux Jazz Festival. July 1971

AHMAD JAMAL DISCOGRAPHY from Blogopolis

1951-55 "The Legendary Okeh & Epic Sessions" (APE) at vzdora.net / alternative
1951-55 "Poinciana" (compilation) at farofa moderna
1955 "Chamber music of the New Jazz" donated by Green (thanks!)
1958 "Ahmad's Blues" at Musica desde las antipodas
1958 "The Legendary Ahmad Jamal Trio Live" at vzdora.net / alternative
1958-61 "Cross Country Tour" (Argo comp, FLAC) at CIA Contributions #5
1958 "At the Pershing" Vol 1/2 in comp at My Jazz World
1958 "At The Pershing/But Not for Me" (APE) at Your Track Music Club
1958 "At the Pershing / But Not For Me" (MP3) at Musica En Harmonia group / alternative / alternative
1958 "Live at the Pershing and the Spotlight Club" at Musical Moadom
1959 "Jamal At The Penthouse" (MP3) at Musica Desde Las Antipodas1959 "Jamal At The Penthouse" (FLAC) at Call It Anything
1961 "Alhambra" at Musica En Harmonia group
1961 "Ahmad Jamal at the Blackhawk" at My Jazz World (in comp.)
1962 "Macanudo" at My Jazz World / alternative / alternative
1963 "Naked City Theme" at CIA Contributions #3
(both MP3 and FLAC in above thread, two entries)1965 "Rhapsody" (MP3) at My Favourite Sound
1965 "Rhapsody" (FLAC) at CIA Contributions #4
1965 "Extensions" donated by Trevor
1965 "The Roar of theGreaspaint, the Smell of the Crowd" at Sun Ship
1966 "Heatwave" at My My Jazz World
1967 "Alhambra" at Best of Both Worlds1967 "Cry Young" at Sun Ship
1967 "Standard Eyes" at My My Jazz World
1968 "Tranquility" (FLAC) at Call It Anything1968 "The Bright, The Blue and The Beautiful" at Sun Ship1969 "At The Top : Poinciana Revisited" at The Musik Lounge1970 "The Awakening" (MP3) at Oufar Khan / alternative
1970 "The Awakening" (FLAC) at Flaclossless or CIA
1971 "Freeflight" in comments here1971 "Outertimeinnerspace" (MP3) at My Jazz World
1971 "Outertimeinnerspace" (FLAC) at Call it Anything
1972 "Inspiration" (comp of 65-68 material) at My Jazz World
1973 "Ahmad Jamal 73" at My Jazz World1974 "Jamal Plays Jamal" at Baby Grandpa
1974 "Jamalca" rapidshare or mediafire
1976 "Live At Oil Can Larry's" at Pharoah's Dance
1976 "Steppin out with a Dream" also on this blog
1978 "One" also on this blog
1979 "Intervals" also on this blog
1980 "Night Song" donated by Trevor
1980 "Genetic Walk" at My Jazz World1980 "Live at Bubba's" (FLAC) at CIA Contributions #4
1985 "Digital Works" at Inconstant Sol
1987 "Crystal" (APE) at vzdora.net / alternative / alternative
1989 "Pittsburgh" (FLAC) at Call it Anything
1989 "Pittsburgh" at Musica En Harmonia group
1992 "Blues Alley" at Musica Desde Las Antipodas1992 "Chicago Revisited : Live at Joe Segal's Jazz Showcase" at CIA1995 "I Remember Duke, Hoagy & Strayhorn" at vzdora.net / alternative
1996 "The Essence, Pt. 1" donated by Art Simon. Thanks!
1998 "Nature : the Essence pt. 3" at Musica En Harmonia group
1998 "Ahmad Jamal With the Assai Quartet" at Inconstant Sol1999 "Live In Germany" (bootleg) at Bogard's Jazztapes2000 "Ahmad Jamal Trio and George Coleman" (Zurich) at Ubu Roi
2001 "Live at Jazz Baltica" (bootleg) at Kingcake Krypt
2002 "In Search Of Momentum" MP3 at Musica Desde Las Antipodas
2002 "In Search Of Momentum" FLAC at Call It Anything
2003 'Live In Paris" (APE) at vzdora.net / alternative / alternative
2008 "It's Magic" at Jazz a Gogo / alternative

MISCELLANEOUS

Ahmad Jamal Samples (4 volumes) at T.R.O.Y. or SL Saico
originals and hip hop flips


at

56 comments:

  1. JazzjetOctober 25, 2008 at 2:23 AM

    Have you ever seen that advert for Ferrero Rocher chocolates where the waiter offers a plate of chocs and the posh lady says 'Mr Ambassador, you're spoiling us'? Well, you're spoiling us with your great posts. Perhaps you should be called The Jazz Ambassador!
    Thanks again.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Simon666October 25, 2008 at 2:28 AM

    Thanks Jazzjet ... i'll need a special uniform if I have that title :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. katonahOctober 26, 2008 at 4:59 AM

    what a honey ... thanks simon

    ReplyDelete
  4. johnvOctober 26, 2008 at 1:50 PM

    Thanks Simon--you never cease to amaze!

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousOctober 26, 2008 at 11:08 PM

    nice one, thanks simon..

    stay tuned!

    ReplyDelete
  6. klakadakOctober 29, 2008 at 11:59 AM

    This is one tremendous post, and your work on this blog is much appreciated. Thanks a lot for all the music!

    If I may notice, Jamalca post is missing songs 5 and 6. But this really nothing comparing to what else is available!

    Thanks again!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Simon666October 29, 2008 at 12:39 PM

    Thanks for the comments guys. always appreciate knowing that people are enjoying these.

    klakadak,
    thanks for pointing that out - will need to keep searching for those two 'Jamaica' tracks. One of them, "Don't Misunderstand", can be found in "Ahmad Jamal Samples Vol 3" here, so will still have to search out the title track "Jamaica".

    If anyone has it, an upload would be appreciated :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Simon666November 1, 2008 at 3:02 PM

    Ok here you go :

    JAMAICA (1974) – just the 2 missing tracks from previous upload :

    Mediafire-13mb

    JAMAICA re-up (full album) :

    Rapidshare or Mediafire

    Discography also has the full album now

    ReplyDelete
  9. klakadakNovember 5, 2008 at 12:27 PM

    Great!!! Thanks a lot for all the effort! And if I may point out, not that it is a big deal, but it is JAMALCA. So Jamal - Jamalca.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Simon666November 5, 2008 at 12:31 PM

    hi klakadak -

    Yep, someone pointed that out to me in the other Jamal post ("Stepping Out With a Dream") - amazing that I could misread a title for 20 years , but there you go :)
    Anyway, corrected in both threads now ..

    ReplyDelete
  11. CryogenicDecember 29, 2008 at 5:57 PM

    Hey if you like this, you should definitely seek "outertimeinnerspace" which is vol. 2 of this show...
    2 side-long tracks = epic rhodes. I'll see if I can find a digitized version to post on my fledgling spot,
    www.cryogenicsounds.blogspot.com

    best
    CS

    ReplyDelete
  12. Simon666December 29, 2008 at 6:00 PM

    Hi Cyrogenic -
    Yeah that's a great album.
    If you look down the bottom of this post, you'll find a discography which has links to MP3 and FLAC versions of "outertimeinnerspace".

    ReplyDelete
  13. Simon666February 5, 2009 at 10:52 PM

    Discography link added :

    1960 "Happy Moods" / "Listen to the Ahmad Jamal Quartet" at Call It Anything

    http://andifyouhadtwocoats.blogspot.com/search?q=Ahmad+Jamal+-+1960+Happy+Moods

    ReplyDelete
  14. Simon666February 21, 2009 at 12:04 PM

    Discography link added :

    1999 "Live In Germany" (bootleg) at Bogard's Jazztapes

    http://bogardjazz.blogspot.com/2009/02/ahmad-jamal-trio-live-in-germany-1999.html

    Ahmad Jamal, piano
    James Cammack, bass
    James Johnson, drums

    recorded live at Jazzfestival Viersen/ Jazzweek Burghausen, Germany 1999

    Tracklist:
    1. Bellows
    2. Acorn
    3. Then I´ll Be Tired of You
    4. High Fly
    5. The Tube
    6. Mystifying
    7. Spanish Interlude
    8. Sun Lililand
    9. Ultraviolet

    ReplyDelete
  15. Simon666February 22, 2009 at 11:27 AM

    discography link added :

    Ahmad Jamal - Extensions (Argo 758, 1965)

    ReplyDelete
  16. BombolinoFebruary 22, 2009 at 9:52 PM

    Sublime recording, once again. Many, many thanks for this, and your other efforts to preserve, renew and share these amazing recordings. I'd been looking for this one!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Simon666February 26, 2009 at 6:47 PM

    Added to discography :

    "Inspiration" (1972)
    Compilation of 1965-68 material

    At My Jazz World :

    http://myjazzworld.blogspot.com/2009/02/ahmad-jamal-inspiration.html

    ReplyDelete
  18. Simon666April 6, 2009 at 2:05 AM

    Hi guys,
    I’ve posted a new vinyl rip of Ahmad Jamal’s “Intervals” (1979), come check it out.

    ReplyDelete
  19. SergioApril 6, 2009 at 9:23 PM

    Hi, i can't find the link for "Happy Moods", could somene give it to me?

    Thanks for the blog!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  20. SergioApril 20, 2009 at 10:23 PM

    Hi again, ok, thanks

    ReplyDelete
  21. Simon666April 28, 2009 at 4:07 AM

    Hi guys –
    New post :
    Ahmad Jamal – “One” (1978), donated by Hanimex3000, come get it.

    ReplyDelete
  22. PrestontwMay 13, 2009 at 9:57 PM

    Another rare goodie for you Simon

    Ahmad Jamal - Night Song - Night Song (Motown!) - 1980

    http://www.mediafire.com/?o45zmjzf4dy

    ReplyDelete
  23. Simon666May 13, 2009 at 11:49 PM

    Thanks for that Trevor :)

    ReplyDelete
  24. peskypeskyJune 5, 2009 at 4:20 AM

    this is sweet! i love how ahmad sounds on the fender. and it's cool the way he switches back and forth to the piano...

    thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  25. PrestontwJune 7, 2009 at 11:12 AM

    Simon,

    I've got my own blog now

    http://thesunship.blogspot.com/

    Digging up some rare Jamal

    ReplyDelete
  26. Simon666June 7, 2009 at 2:55 PM

    Thanks Preston, that album looks interesting, will have to grab it.

    All - added to discography :

    1968 "The Bright, The Blue and The Beautiful" at Sun Ship

    ReplyDelete
  27. Simon666June 9, 2009 at 11:39 AM

    Added to discography :

    1967 "Alhambra"

    ReplyDelete
  28. SelfScienceAugust 17, 2009 at 1:04 PM

    Thank you very much for the Ahmad Jamal. Mr. Jamal is one bad dude.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Buns O'PlentyAugust 19, 2009 at 11:53 AM

    great stuff thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  30. AnonymousAugust 25, 2009 at 4:54 AM

    Please if someone have ahmad jamal night song album flac upload!

    ReplyDelete
  31. DJ KWAKSeptember 2, 2009 at 8:37 AM

    wonderful ... many thanks ... keep up the great work ...

    ReplyDelete
  32. PrestontwSeptember 8, 2009 at 7:39 PM

    HI,

    More jamal at sunship
    thesunship.blogspot.com

    t

    ReplyDelete
  33. Simon666September 8, 2009 at 10:23 PM

    Thanks prestonw :) have added to the discography and looking forward to listening.

    Everyone -

    "The Roar of The Greasepaint - The Smell of the Crowd" (1965) and "Cry Young" (1967) have been added, check them out at :

    http://thesunship.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  34. JasonGSeptember 22, 2009 at 12:48 PM

    Fascinating stuff - love the transition between acoustic and rhodes - it's like when Miles would switch to the mute midway through a solo. Thanks for posting.

    ReplyDelete
  35. AnonymousSeptember 29, 2009 at 1:37 AM

    Many thanks for all of this you´ve done here, really appreciated!
    This helps alot for finding new good music.

    ReplyDelete
  36. EyokOctober 7, 2009 at 9:59 PM

    wow, wonderful music.
    never heard about the man, will definitely remember his name from now on. thanks a lot.

    ReplyDelete
  37. AnonymousNovember 4, 2009 at 6:39 PM

    thanks a lot. these blogs are the only hope for music like this

    ReplyDelete
  38. AnonymousNovember 16, 2009 at 11:42 AM

    Hello, great blog.
    rapidshare wav part3 is not working for me.Anyone else who has the same problem?

    ReplyDelete
  39. rocknessNovember 21, 2009 at 12:34 AM

    thanks man!!
    great blog!

    ReplyDelete
  40. rocknessNovember 21, 2009 at 7:17 AM

    Hi!
    Part 3 wav missing..it's a pity
    Please, re upload!!!!
    thanks!

    ps this blog is fantastic!

    ReplyDelete
  41. Simon666November 21, 2009 at 5:27 PM

    Hi rockness and thundergiant,
    Could you remind me what tracks are in the WAV downloads 1 and 2 ? Then i'll upload the remainder for #3

    ReplyDelete
  42. rocknessNovember 21, 2009 at 11:33 PM

    OK Thanks!

    Part 1:
    1 Introduction.wav
    2 Effendi.wav
    3 Dolphin Dance.wav

    Part 2:
    4 Manhattan Reflections.wav

    Part 3: I guess
    05 'Poinciana'

    ReplyDelete
  43. Simon666November 22, 2009 at 12:27 AM

    OK, I'll have it up Monday or Tuesday.

    ReplyDelete
  44. rocknessNovember 22, 2009 at 3:46 AM

    thank you very much Simon666!

    May I ask you if these wav files are mp3 decompressed or the originals wav without tricks?

    and, if I can, I would like to know (only for curiosity - I'm an audiophile) what is your setup (TT, cartridge, cables etc) and if have applied noise reduction.

    Anyway thanks again! Keep the jazz and vinyl roll on!

    ReplyDelete
  45. Simon666November 22, 2009 at 12:46 PM

    Hi Rockness -
    Nothing special on the turntable/cables end, just using a Numark with an inbuilt pre-amp. Feeding via RCAs into ProTools where I record as WAV. I apply a minimal amount of noise reduction via ClickRepair. Depending on the age and source of the vinyl, I do sometimes apply some minimal equalisation when there's been obvious wear manifesting in particular frequency ranges. I know those are both sometimes contentious processes, but I don't see vinyl wear as being a "natural" process in relation to an artist's intentions. I've worked in music production in various ways for 30 years and lecture in sound at university, so feel that I've got a sense of not overdoing these sort of corrections.

    ReplyDelete
  46. rocknessNovember 22, 2009 at 8:26 PM

    thanks a lot for your answer

    ReplyDelete
  47. Simon666November 24, 2009 at 5:06 PM

    here you go, WAV #3 :

    http://rapidshare.com/files/311377388/Poinciana.wav.zip

    ReplyDelete
  48. rocknessNovember 24, 2009 at 9:57 PM

    thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  49. J ReidMay 21, 2011 at 4:50 AM

    muchas gracias

    ReplyDelete
  50. AnonymousFebruary 25, 2012 at 3:31 AM

    freeflight is lost, fucking lost in the space, repost pleeeezzzze!! thanks brother!!

    ReplyDelete
  51. UnknownFebruary 23, 2014 at 1:26 PM

    Any chance you can post a new link for this killer album?? Thanks :)

    ReplyDelete
  52. Simon666March 11, 2014 at 12:15 AM

    New MP3 and WAV links in the post

    ReplyDelete
  53. AnonymousFebruary 3, 2016 at 5:57 PM

    Thank you very much for this

    ReplyDelete
  54. BilNovember 5, 2017 at 3:14 AM

    thanks for all the info! amazing. and the shares! hope you dont mind me posting a link to the Happy Moods (Listen to Ahmad Jamal Quartet) album. I found it here:

    http://triangle-wave.blogspot.com/2011/07/ahmad-jamal-happy-moods-1960.html

    thanks again!

    ReplyDelete
  55. neilMay 20, 2020 at 8:50 PM

    Lost my version in a HD crash; amazed that the link is still live. Many thanks Simon666...

    ReplyDelete
  56. REP1974November 13, 2021 at 8:37 PM

    Thank you for all of this great jazz

    ReplyDelete