Olympia 2000

Performer: Ahmad Jamal
Artist: George Coleman; Idris Muhammad
Engineer: Alain Francais
Producer: Jean-Francois Deiber
Distributor: E1 Distribution (USA)

Notes: Personnel: Ahmad Jamal (piano); George Coleman (tenor saxophone); James Cammack (bass); Idris Muhammad (drums). Recorded live at L'Olympia, Paris, France on November 6, 2000. Personnel: George Coleman (tenor saxophone); Idris Muhammad (drums). Audio Mixer: Alain Francais. Liner Note Author: Ahmad Jamal. Recording information: L'Olympia, Paris, France (11/06/2000). Photographer: Jacques Beneich. Unknown Contributor Role: Bruno Coquatrix. Arranger: Ahmad Jamal. Recorded at L'Olympia in Paris shortly after Jamal's 70th birthday, Olympia 2000 features the pianist with his trio mates: James Cammack (bass) and Idris Muhammad (drums). They're joined by tenor saxophonist George Coleman on the first four tracks, which are fairly lengthy readings of standards: "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes," "How Deep Is the Ocean," "Autumn Leaves," and "My Foolish Heart." The last two tracks -- Johnny Pate's mid-tempo swing tune "Appreciation" and Jamal's own funky, involved "Aftermath" -- feature the trio without the horn. Fans of Jamal won't be disappointed; Coleman's beefy, substantial ruminations add a great deal to the session. ~ David R. Adler

Down Beat (2/02, pp.56-7) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...He pours an abundance of feelings, much nuance, and impeccable swing into theme statements and solos....The music swings and the band is tight...Jamal is still a kick in the head to listen to..."

With his spare, subtle swing, pianist Ahmad Jamal is an important figure in both mainstream and post-bop jazz. The commercial success of his 1950s trio recordings made important inroads for jazz. His influence on Miles Davis was acknowledged by the trumpeter himself, who recorded many tunes from Jamal's repertoire. Incredibly, Jamal maintained his verve and artistic relevance all the way into the 21st century, long after many of his contemporaries had passed on.

Click Here for Shipping Options and Policies

Shipping or Dimension weight in pounds: 0.25