Happy 90th birthday to jazz legend and venerable pianist Ahmad Jamal (born 7/2/30) who began recording in the 1950’s and to this day still leads a musically adventurous palette. Born Frederick Russell Jones, Jamal converted to Islam in 1950 and became trained in both traditional jazz and European classical style leading to his foray into “cool jazz.” He offered a technical flair that not only utilized his playing speed but also the of orchestral effects and his ease at controlling the song’s beat. Jamal’s discography is lengthy as it includes numerous collaborations and outfits, but you can’t go wrong with this jazz session from 1971.…
