BIO
Ahmad Jamal was born on July 2nd, 1930 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh was the home of many artists known the world over for their work and contributions to both European Classical Music and American Classical Music (The term Mr. Jamal prefers for Jazz).
He began playing piano at age 3, the same age Erroll Garner started. Jamal and Garner attended the same elementary and high schools. Mr. Jamal started his formal studies with noted educator, Mary Cardwell Dawson. Ms. Dawson was responsible for the first African American artists joining The Metropolitan Opera Company. When Madame Dawson moved to Washington, DC., Jamal continued his studies with James Miller, a contemporary of Earl Wild, both Pittsburgh natives.
By age 10 Jamal was composing, orchestrating and performing works by Franz Liszt, exploring the music of Duke Ellington, Art Tatum, Nat Cole, Erroll Garner and a host of music notables. Jamal immersed himself fully in learning the American Song Book. He was proficient at amassing a huge repertoire and caught the attention of his senior Pittsburgh masters. Quickly hired on, he joined the AFof M (American Federation of Musicians) at 14, when the minimum age requirement was 16.
At 17, he left home at the request of the George Hudson Orchestra and began touring the country. The orchestra included Clark Terry and orchestrator Ernie Wilkins. The touring schedule included major theaters throughout the United States; Notably, the historic Apollo Theater in NYC, and The Howard Theater in Washington, DC. Mr. Jamal took the Apollo stage with the orchestra at 18 years of age.
He formed his own group in 1951 and with the help of John Hammond started his recording career with Okeh Records. That career has continued for over six decades and has resulted in one of the most successful recordings in the history of Instrumental music, "The Ahmad Jamal Trio, at The Pershing". The music was chosen by longtime fan Clint Eastwood for "The Bridges Of Madison County" and featured prominently in "The Wolf Of Wall Street". It is also used in dance companies all over the world, and continues to make musical history.
Jamal’s myriad awards noted at AhmadJamal.com include: Grammy Lifetime Achievement 2017, The NEA Masters Award, Kennedy Center Legend Award, French Government Awards, Malaysian Awards, Doctor of Music, Honoris Causa, New England Conservatory Of Music, which reads: "Ahmad Jamal, Jazz pianist, one of foremost leaders of small ensembles. An innovative great who drew from and influenced idioms from the big band era to bebop to cool jazz to electronic styles. An American Jazz Master who inspired such important figures as Miles Davis, McCoy Tyner, and Herbie Hancock. Renowned for his exquisite touch, profound grace, and mercurial improvisational choices. For seven decades he's been sharing his inimitable and unique voice with jazz lovers the world over."
Ahmad Jamal’s career spans seven decades covering eras of The Art Form, big band, the Parker / Gillespie era, to the electronic age. Jamal is one of the most sampled composers and recording artists in the world. He is still recording and producing artists, and has just released "Jamal Plays Jamal" on his own label, available from www.ahmadjamal.com .
Ahmad Jamal has been a Steinway Artist for over a half century.
AWARDS
Lifetime Achievement
Jazz Journalists Association 2019
Grammy Award
Lifetime Achievement 2017
National Endowment For The Arts
NEA Master
Kennedy Center
Legend Award
Grammy
Blue Moon
Nomination, Best Jazz Instrumental, 2012
Downbeat Magazine
76th Annual Readers Hall Of Fame
Officer Order Of Arts & Letters
Officier De L'ordre Des Arts Et Des Lettres
March 14, 2007
Gold Medallion
Fait Á Paris, Le 14 Mars 2007
Steinway & Sons 150 Year Celebration
(1853-2003), June 6 . 2003
American Jazz Hall Of Fame - New Jersey Jazz Society
State University Of Nj (Rutgers) Institute Of Jazz Studies, 2003
Proclamation Of Raleigh, North Carolina
Mayor, Charles Meeker, November 23, 2002
The Kelly-Strayhorn Gallery Of Stars Honor - Achievement As Pianist And Composer
East Liberty Quarter Chamber Of Commerce, November 11, 2001
Arts & Culture Recognition Award
National Coalition Of 100 Black Women, Inc., February 24, 2001
Choc De L'annee Jazzman Award
For Cd, E The Essence, Part I, 1995
Certificate Of Appreciation
Westinghouse High School Alumni Association, June 19, 1994
Award, American Jazz Masters Fellowship
National Endowment Of The Arts, 1994
Duke Ellington Fellow Award
Yale University, March 20, 1994
Letter Of Recognition - President Bill Clinton
The American Jazz Master Fellowship Award, December 21, 1993
Certificate Of Honorary Citizenship
City Of Memphis, November 19, 1993
Proclamation Of The Council
City Of New York, November 8, 1991
Who's Who Among Black Americans
1988
Honorary Member - Philippines Jazz Foundation
December 18, 1987
BMI Tribute
50th Anniversary 1940-1990, Lincoln Theater
University Of Hartford, March 28, 1987
Mellon Jazz Festival Salutes Ahmad Jamal
Pittsburgh, PA 1986
Merit Award
The Art Directors' Club 65Th Annual Exhibition 1986
(Atlantic Records, "Digital Works")
Nomination For Best R&B; Instrumental Performance
("You're Welcome”, "Stop On By") Naras, 1981
Key To The City Of Providence, Rhode Island
Mayor, Vincent A. Cianci, Jr., 1980
Distinguished Service Award
City Of Washington D.C., Anacostia Neighborhood Museum, Smithsonian Institute, 1980
Award In Music, A Product Of His People - Then, Now And Forever
Award, City Of Houston
Radio Station Kcoh Jazz Committee, 1973
Award For The Fight Against Sickle Cell Anemia
Dayton, Oh, 60's
Who's Who In America
1960
Entertainment Award
Pittsburgh Junior Chamber Of Commerce, 1959
Upcoming Performances
Thursday, December 12, 2019
Ferst Center at Georgia Tech
Atlanta, GA
Saturday, February 8, 2020
Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Washington, D.C.
BOOKING
Worldwide Management
Ellora Management
PO Box 755
Lakeville, CT 06069 USA
Ph: (860)435-1305
Fx: (860)435-9916
laura@elloramanagement.com
For Europe and Special Events Worldwide
ACM Productions / Jazzbook Records
Seydou Barry & Catherine Vallon-Barry
33 Avenue du Marechal Koenig
13090 Aix en Provence-France
Ph:+ 33(0) 6 07 75 91 40
s. barry@acm-productions.com
c.vallon @acm-productions.com
North America, Asia, Africa,
Latin America & The Middle East
Maurice Montoya Music Agency
Maurice Montoya
11 Island Ave, Suite 1711
Miami Beach, FL. 33139-USA
Ph: 305-763-8961
Ph: 212-229-9160
Fax: 305-831-4472 maurice@mmmusicagency.com
Videos
Discography
