Articles by Chuck Lenatti
Ahmad Jamal Plugs In: Funk, Fusion and the Fender Rhodes
by Chuck Lenatti
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 During the politically and culturally turbulent late 1960s and '70s, many jazz musicians attempted to appeal to a younger and more diverse audience that grew up listening to artists such as James Brown, Jimi Hendrix and Sly Stone rather than Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington or Charlie Parker. Miles Davis was the catalyst. Released in 1969, Miles Davis' seminal album Bitches Brew (Columbia GP 26) fused electronic ...
read moreAhmad Jamal: After Poinciana
by Chuck Lenatti
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 On Location and at the Penthouse In an apparent effort to capitalize on the new-found popularity from his 1958 record, At the Pershing, But Not for Me (Argo LP628), Ahmad Jamal released a flurry of albums between 1958 and 1970, many of them recorded on location. Musically, it was a very productive period for Jamal, and these 20-plus albums do nothing to tarnish Jamal and his ensembles' reputation as among ...
read moreAhmad Jamal: An American Classic
by Chuck Lenatti
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 1930-1958: From Pittsburgh to The Pershing Frederick Russell Jones was born on July 2, 1930, to a working-class family in jny: Pittsburgh. His friends called him Fritz. As a boy, he delivered newspapers to Billy Strayhorn's family. He converted to Islam around 1950 and took the name Ahmad Jamal. His family identified him as a child prodigy at the tender age of three after his uncle challenged him ...
read moreHiromi's Sonicwonder At SFJAZZ
by Chuck Lenatti
Hiromi's SonicwonderSFJAZZ, Miner AuditoriumSan Francisco, CAApril 14, 2024 Hiromi and her merry band of simpatico sonic warriors concluded their jny: San Francisco run at SFJAZZ's Miner Auditorium with an exhilarating jolt of electricity as they dove into their latest release, Sonicwonderland (Concord Records, 2023). The uniquely coiffed pianist wore a bright yellow dress over black tights and cute sneakers and was in perpetual motion throughout the show. “Sonic" is code for plugged in. ...
read moreGiveaway
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