This 2008 release compiles two complete original LPs by the Ahmad Jamal Trio: Naked City Theme, recorded live at the Jazz Workshop in San Francisco, 1964, and Extensions, a studio album made in New York the following year.... more » Both albums appear on CD here for the first time ever. Jazzbeat.« less
This 2008 release compiles two complete original LPs by the Ahmad Jamal Trio: Naked City Theme, recorded live at the Jazz Workshop in San Francisco, 1964, and Extensions, a studio album made in New York the following year. Both albums appear on CD here for the first time ever. Jazzbeat.
CD Reviews
Lost Treasure
Joseph Jones | spring hill, florida United States | 01/25/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I always thought that the Naked City Theme album was one of Ahmad's best live performances.Excellent support from bassist Jamil Nasser and a very underrated drummer Chuck Lampkin who played with Dizzy Gillespie.Having the album Extensions on this CD is icing on the cake.I highly recommend this CD. Joseph Jones-Spring Hill Fla"
Ahmad Jamal early genius recordings
Timothy W. Gardner | Roseville, CA USA | 10/13/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Naked City theme is an interesting bonus to the classic "Extensions" CD by a young Ahmad Jamal. I've waited forty five years for this CD(Extensions) to come out, which is one of his most intellectual, emotional and vibrant compositions. "Heat Wave" is still in vinyl, and it is pure pleasure if it ever comes out in an updated format. Both recordings were way ahead of their time."
Exotic Jamal
M. M. S. Nico | São Paulo, Brazil | 03/04/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I have purchased the old vynils of these recordings many years ago and they remain some of my favorite Jamal.How nice to have them on CD. Several aspects of these recordings were new in Ahmad's music at that time: exotic rhythms , extended performances (check "Extentions"), an irresistible assemblage of new originals by him and by others, and the definitive arrangement of two standards: "beautiful love" and "whisper not". Ahmad Jamal is not an improviser in the common jazz sense: he is a musical maestro and his orchestra is the trio. Whoever wached him live knows that."
A missing link, finally edited in CD !
Oliver | Cannes FRANCE | 02/26/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"
The issue of this CD is a blessing in this period of global crisis!
There have been so many re-editions, compilations, remastering of the earlier records of the more classical Ahmad's trio with Israel Crosby and Vernell Fournier. I was desesperated to found again "Extension", "This terrible planet" and other tunes of this LP which made me adore Ahmad when I was teen-ager!
This CD groups indeed 2 outstanding LPs, recorded in 64 and 65, 2 years after the death of bassist Israel Crosby, who is replaced by Jamil Nasser: "Naked city Theme" was recorded live with excellent Chuck Lampin on drums; In "Extensions" recorded in Studio, Ahmad retrieves Vernell Fournier. In total more than 75 minutes of brilliant and beautiful music with infectious african or caribean beats ("Haitian market place", "This terrible planet") rare haunting melodies (the aerial walzy improvisations on "Dance to the lady") . Ahmad experiences here some effects (picking his piano cords) and long musical developments: 6 -9 minutes, up to 13 minutes... justifying the title "Extension"! This leaves the place for bass or drums soli, and immaginative conversations between the 3 instruments, always swinging and dancing. The trio sounds as a whole and sometimes like a big band (listen to the amazing up-tempo performance of "One for Miles" or "whisper not").
Highly recommended for Ahmad's afficionados... but also an entry point for newcommers !"
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1