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).
ahmadjamal.com
All of You
Ahmad Jamal Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
你總會對我多點在乎
我以為雖然愛情已成往事
千言萬語說出來可以互相安撫
期待你感動 真實的我們難相處
寫詞的讓我 唱出你要的幸福
誰曾經感動 分手的關頭才懂得
離開排行榜 更銘心刻骨
我已經相信 有些人我永遠不必等
所以我明白 在燈火闌珊處為什麼會哭
你不會相信 嫁給我明天有多幸福
只想你明白 我心甘情願愛愛愛愛到要吐
那是醉生夢死 才能熬成的苦
愛如潮水 我忘了我是誰
至少還有你哭
我想唱一首歌給我們祝福
唱完了我會一個人住
我願意試著瞭解從此以後
擁擠的房間一個人的心 有多孤獨
我已經相信 有些人我永遠不必等
所以我明白 在燈火闌珊處為什麼會哭
你不會相信 嫁給我明天有多幸福
只想你明白 我心甘情願愛愛愛愛到要吐
讓我斷了氣鐵了心愛的過火
一回頭就找到出路
讓我成為了無情的K歌之王
麥克風都讓我征服
想不到你 若無其事的說
這樣濫情 何苦
我想來一個吻別作為結束
想不到你只說我不許哭
不讓我領悟
The lyrics of this song express the hope of a singer that a person he loves deeply would reciprocate his feelings equally. He hopes that even though their relationship has ended, they can still console each other with words of love and that he can sing sincere lyrics that touch her heart. However, he realizes that their relationship has become difficult and that it is hard for them to understand each other. He is most moved by the sudden realization that only after breaking up, one can truly understand how much they were touched. He also talks about how he is trying to accept that some people are not meant to be together, and how crying alone in the dark may seem pointless, but it can be cathartic.
In the latter part, the singer talks about how he has become desperate for love and even willing to risk giving his all, even if it hurts. He also mentions how at one point, he thought becoming a ruthless karaoke king would help him forget his love for the girl, but he realized that it was useless. The singer then expresses his desire to give one final kiss, but the girl stops him and tells him not to cry, leaving him confused.
Overall, the song's message seems to be about the complexities of love and the difficulty of letting go. It expresses hope in finding an equal and true love, but also acknowledges the pain that comes with it. The singer also explores the idea of accepting that some people are not meant to be together and how that realization can be a difficult but important step towards moving on.
Line by Line Meaning
I thought as long as I sing with sincerity
I believed that if I sang with sincerity, you would care more about me.
I thought even though love has become a thing of the past
I thought that even though our love has ended, we could console each other with words.
Hoping that you'll be moved, but the real us is hard to deal with
I hoped to move you, but in reality, our true selves are difficult to handle.
Let the lyricist write for me, so I can sing the happiness you want
I'll let the lyricist write for me, so I can sing the happiness you desire.
Only when we're parting ways do we truly understand
It's only when we're breaking up that we truly understand our feelings for each other.
Leaving the ranks but etched in my heart
Even though we've broken up, the memories of our love will always stay with me.
I now believe that there are some people I never have to wait for
I've come to understand that there are some people I don't have to wait for in my life.
So I know why I cried under the dim light
So, now I know why I cried under the dim light of loneliness.
You won't believe how happy marrying me will be
You won't believe how happy you'll be marrying me.
I just want you to understand that I'm willingly going to love until I vomit
I just want you to understand that I'm willing to love you so deeply that it makes me sick.
That's the pain that comes from being swept away by love
That's the pain that comes with being swept away by love.
Love is like the tide, I forgot who I am
Love is like a tide, it swept me away and I lost my sense of self.
At least I still have you to cry with
At least, I still have you to share my tears with.
I want to sing a song to bless us
I want to sing a song to bless our relationship.
After I'm done, I'm going to live alone
After I'm done singing, I will live alone.
I'm willing to try to understand from now on
I'm willing to try to understand our situation from now on.
A crowded room and a lonely heart
A room full of people, but a heart that's lonely.
Let me be breathless, steel-hearted, and love to the extreme
Let me be breathless, cold-hearted, and love you to the extreme.
One look back and I'll find a way out
I'll find a way out when I look back on our past.
Let me become the heartless king of karaoke
Let me become the ruthless king of karaoke (singing sad songs with passion).
I never thought you would say it so casually
I never thought you would say it so casually - this kind of love is not worth it.
Why can't I have a farewell kiss?
Why can't I have a goodbye kiss?
I never expected you to say, 'No crying allowed.'
I never expected you to say, 'Don't cry.'
Writer(s): Cole Porter
Contributed by Caden M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.