He was a fantastic musician and he will be missed.
I’ve always loved this recording of Ponciana from live at The Pershing in Chicago 1958. It’ll put a groove in your step and a smile on your face.
A good write-up here and is worth the read. He was an inspiration to many:
Jamal’s influence and admirers spread far and wide in jazz. For instance, Miles Davis found enormous inspiration in his work: In his 1989 autobiography, Miles , the legendary trumpeter said that Jamal “knocked me out with his concept of space, his lightness of touch, his understatement, and the way he phrases notes and chords and passages.” Miles went on to record Jamal’s “New Rhumba” on his classic 1957 recording Miles Ahead .
