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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Time For Love
Ahmad Jamal Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For hummingbirds and butterflies
For tender words that harmonize with love
A time for climbing hills
For leaning out of windowsills
Admiring daffodils above
A time for rainbow coloured weather
A time of make believe that we've been dreaming of
As time goes drifting by
The willow bends and so do I
But all my friends whatever skies above
I know a time for spring
A time for fall
But best of all
A time for love
A time for holding hands together
A time for rainbow coloured weather
A time of make believe that we've been dreaming of
As time goes drifting by
The willow bends and so do I
But all my friends whatever skies above
I know a time for spring
A time for fall
But best of all
A time for love
The lyrics of Time For Love by Ahmad Jamal are a beautiful ode to the different seasons of life, particularly the joys of summertime and love. The first verse refers to the beauty of nature during the summertime, as the birds and butterflies complement the tender words that harmonize with love. The second verse talks about the joy of climbing hills and admiring nature, particularly the beauty of the daffodils. The chorus then speaks of the joys of holding hands, experiencing beautiful weather, and living in a dream world where love dominates.
The final section acknowledges the flow of time and how it bends us, just as the willow tree bends in the wind. The lyrics remind us that there is a time for every season: spring, fall, and winter, but in the end, the most special time of them all is time for love. It's evident from the lyrics that the song is meant to be an uplifting, heartwarming tribute to the beauty of life and the importance of love.
Line by Line Meaning
A time for summer skies
It is a season for bright and clear skies, when the sun is shining and there's no sign of rain.
For hummingbirds and butterflies
It is a time when beautiful, delicate creatures such as hummingbirds and butterflies come out to dance and celebrate life.
For tender words that harmonize with love
It is a time for expressing affection and saying words of endearment that resonate with the heart, a time that is synonymous with love.
A time for climbing hills
It is a time when people go outdoors and hike up hills, take in the fresh air and the beauty of nature that surrounds them.
For leaning out of windowsills
It is a time when people sit by their windows and enjoy the view outside, often lost in thought or reflecting on their lives.
Admiring daffodils above
It is a time when people appreciate the beauty of the world around them, and the simple joy of looking at a flower such as a daffodil.
A time for holding hands together
It is a time for companionship and intimacy, a time when people join hands and walk together in unison.
A time for rainbow coloured weather
It is a time for diversity and richness in weather, a time when the colors are vibrant and varied, and the atmosphere is full of life.
A time of make believe that we've been dreaming of
It is a time when we are free to imagine, to dream, to create our own realities and believe in the impossible.
As time goes drifting by
As life progresses and time moves on, everything in the world changes and evolves.
The willow bends and so do I
As nature adapts and changes, we must also be flexible and able to adjust to new circumstances and situations.
But all my friends whatever skies above
Despite any hardships or challenges we may face, we can always rely on the support and love of our friends.
I know a time for spring
I am aware of the season of awakening, of new beginnings and fresh starts, a time of hope.
A time for fall
I am aware of the time of reflection and transition, when the leaves change color and fall, a time of change and letting go.
But best of all
However, above all else, there is one thing that stands out as the most meaningful and special.
A time for love
Above everything, this is the time when we can express and experience the essence of what it means to be human, the beauty of love.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHNNY MANDEL, PAUL FRANCIS WEBSTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind