8:30 jazz podcast #75 Ahmad Jamal Essentials
22 March 2026

8:30 jazz podcast #75 Ahmad Jamal Essentials

830 - A Jazz Podcast

About

We celebrate Ahmad Jamal by following his sound from a 1958 Chicago club recording to later-era gems and a 2012 “Ponciana” performance in Paris. We focus on his signature use of space, the trio’s feel, and why his touch influenced generations of jazz musicians. 
• the backstory of “Ponciana” and the Pershing Hotel recording 
• how Jamal uses space and why Miles Davis admired it 
• “New Rumba” and Jamal’s connection to the Miles repertoire 
• a jump to later recordings and the smooth orchestration on “Hello” 
• why “The Awakening” hit Ray so hard and the magic of Jamal’s presence 
• crate-digging “Genetic Walk” and exploring albums beyond Spotify 
• shout outs plus March jazz birthdays and community notes 
Go back and listen to them all. Listen to them from the beginning.


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