A child prodigy who began to play the piano at the age of three, he began formal studies at age seven. While in high school, he completed the equivalent of college master classes under the noted African-American concert singer and teacher Mary Cardwell Dawson and pianist James Miller. He joined the musicians’ union at the age of 14, and he began touring upon graduation from Westinghouse High School at the age of 17, drawing critical acclaim for his solos. In 1951 he formed his first trio, The Three Strings. Performing at New York’s The Embers club, Record Producer John Hammond “discovered” The Three Strings and signed them to Okeh Records (a division of Columbia, now Sony, Records.)
In 1956, Jamal, who had already been joined by bassist Israel Crosby in 1955, replaced guitarist Ray Crawford with a drummer. Working as the “house trio” at Chicago’s Pershing Hotel in 1958, drummer Vernell Fournier joined this trio and Mr. Jamal made an on-location recording for Argo (Chess) Records entitled But Not For Me. The resulting hit single and album, which also included Poinciana - - his rendition, now Mr. Jamal’s “trademark, “ remained on the Ten Best – selling charts - - amazingly for a jazz album - - an unprecedented 108 weeks! This financial success enabled Mr. Jamal to realize a dream, and he opened a restaurant/club, The Alhambra, in Chicago. Here the trio was able to perform while limiting their touring schedule.
Considering his trio "an orchestra", Jamal not only achieves a unified sound, but subtly inserted independent roles for the bass and drums. The hallmarks of Jamal's style are rhythmic innovations, colorful harmonic perceptions, especially left-hand harmonic and melodic figures, plus parallel and contrary motion lines in and out of chordal substitutions and alterations and pedal point ostinato interludes in tasteful dynamics. He also incorporates a unique sense of space in his music, and his musical concepts are exciting without being loud in volume. Augmented by a selection of unusual standards and his own compositions, Mr. Jamal would notably impress and influence, among others, trumpeter Miles Davis.
In 1951, Jamal first recorded Ahmad's Blues on Okeh Records. His arrangement of the folk tune Billy Boy, and Poinciana (not his original composition), also stem from this period. In 1955, he recorded his first Argo (Chess) Records album that included New Rhumba, Excerpts From The Blues, Medley (actually I Don't Want To Be Kissed), and It Ain't Necessarily So, -- all later utilized by Miles Davis and Gil Evans on the albums Miles Ahead and Porgy and Bess.
In his autobiography, Miles Davis praised Jamal's special artistic qualities and cites his influence. In fact, the mid-to-late 1950s Miles Davis Quintet recordings notably feature material previously recorded by Jamal: Squeeze Me, It Could Happen To You, But Not For Me, Surrey With -The Fringe On Top, Ahmad's Blues, On Green Dolphin Street and Billy Boy
In 1994, Jamal received the American Jazz Masters fellowship award from the National Endowment for the Arts. The same year he was named a Duke Ellington Fellow at Yale University, where he performed commissioned works with the Assai String Quartet.
In 1970, Jamal performed the title composition by Johnny Mandel for the soundtrack of the film MASH!; and in 1995, two tracks from his smash album But Not For Me--Music, Music, Music, and Poinciana were featured in the Clint Eastwood film The Bridges of Madison County.
Jamal's 1996 release, The Essence (Verve 529 327-2) features a first -- a recording made with a horn, tenor saxophonist George Coleman. Already released in Europe, the album has received such critical comments as "Historique!" as well as the resulting outstanding sales and the"CHOC" award in France. The album has also received the D'jango award, and a concert at Salle Pleyel was sold out.
Hal Leonard Publications issued The Ahmad Jamal Collection Piano Transcriptions in 1998.
In 1994 Mr. Jamal received the National Endowment of the Arts American Jazz Masters award and also was named a Duke Ellington Fellow at Yale University.
In June of 2007 the French Government inducted Jamal into the prestigious Order of the Arts and Letters by French Culture Minister Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres, naming him Officier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. Former recipients being William Faulkner, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Jackson Pollack, Ella Fitzgerald, Alan Ginsberg and Tony Morrison.
His 2008 recording, “It’s Magic”, hit the US charts at #13 immediately after its release. It graced the Billboard Top Jazz Albums chart, the iTunes Jazz Top 10, and it recently peaked at #2 on the Jazz Week Radio Chart In France. Jamal was awarded Best International Album (Album International de Production Francaise) by Les Victoire du Jazz, the French version of the Grammys. The album also garnered Record of the Year by Jazz Man magazine.
In his 80s, Jamal continued to make numerous tours and recordings, including albums such as Saturday Morning (2013), the CD/DVD release Ahmad Jamal Featuring Yusef Lateef Live at L'Olympia (2014), and Marseille (2017).
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A Gal in Calico
Ahmad Jamal Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Used to be her Sunday beau ?til I rode away.
Do I want her, do I want her love?
Yes siree!
Will I win her, Will I win her love?
Wait and see!
Workin' with a rodeo, go from town to town.
But who made my heart sing
Yippee Yi! Yippee Yo!
My little gal in calico.
Take my gal in calico, down in Santa Fe;
Guess I'd better let her know that I feel this way.
Is she waitin' is she waitin'
She better be.
Am I hopin' to be ropin' her?
Yes siree!
Gonna quit the rodeo, gonna settle down,
Buy a bolt of calico for a weddin?gown.
Then will I fence her in
Yippee Yi! Yippee Yo!
My little gal in calico.
The lyrics of Ahmad Jamal's "A Gal in Calico" tell the story of a man who meets a woman while in Santa Fe. He used to be her Sunday "beau," but he rode away and now wonders if he wants her love again. The man works with a rodeo and travels from town to town, seeing many different women and styles of dresses. However, it is the woman he met in calico who makes his heart sing and who he wants to rope in and settle down with. He plans to quit the rodeo, buy a bolt of calico for a wedding gown, and fence her in. The song is a hopeful tale of finding love and settling down with the one who has captured your heart.
The lyrics of "A Gal in Calico" were written by Leo Robin, an American lyricist who wrote the lyrics for many famous songs, including "Thanks for the Memory" and "Beyond the Sea." The music was composed by Arthur Schwartz, who also wrote the music for "That's Entertainment!" and "Dancing in the Dark."
Line by Line Meaning
Met a gal in calico, down in Santa Fe;
I met a woman dressed in calico when I was in Santa Fe;
Used to be her Sunday beau ?til I rode away.
I used to be her Sunday companion until I left.
Do I want her, do I want her love?
Am I interested in her? Do I want her affection?
Yes siree!
Absolutely!
Will I win her, Will I win her love?
Will I be successful in winning her over, in gaining her love?
Wait and see!
I'll have to wait and find out.
Workin' with a rodeo, go from town to town.
I'm working with a traveling rodeo, moving from one town to another.
See most every kind a gal, every kind a gown.
I see many different types of women, each wearing unique clothing.
But who made my heart sing
Out of all the women I've met, who made my heart skip a beat?
Yippee Yi! Yippee Yo!
I'm ecstatic!
My little gal in calico.
That sweet girl in calico clothing caught my attention.
Take my gal in calico, down in Santa Fe;
I want that girl dressed in calico from Santa Fe to be mine.
Guess I'd better let her know that I feel this way.
I should inform her that I have feelings for her.
Is she waitin' is she waitin'
Is she eagerly anticipating my arrival and affections?
She better be.
I hope so.
Am I hopin' to be ropin' her?
Do I desire to win her over and make her mine?
Yes siree!
Absolutely!
Gonna quit the rodeo, gonna settle down,
I plan to leave the rodeo and settle down in one place.
Buy a bolt of calico for a weddin?gown.
I plan to purchase a length of calico cloth to make a wedding dress.
Then will I fence her in
I will build a fence around her, figuratively meaning that I will be devoted and protective of her.
Yippee Yi! Yippee Yo!
Another expression of my joy and excitement.
My little gal in calico.
I'm so happy to have found that sweet girl in calico, and can't wait to make her mine.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ARTHUR SCHWARTZ, LEO ROBIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind