He was known for his laid-back style and for his influence on, among others, Miles Davis, who once said, "All my inspiration comes from Ahmad Jamal."
NYT obit here
"...In a career that would bring him a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master award, a lifetime achievement Grammy and induction into France's Order of Arts and Letters, Mr. Jamal made his mark with a stately approach that honored what he called the spaces in the music...
...Herbie Hancock and Keith Jarrett are among the prominent jazz pianists who looked to Mr. Jamal as an exemplar....
...By the time he joined the musicians' union at age 14, the celebrated jazz piano virtuoso Art Tatum had hailed him as "a coming great"...
...The reverence with which Mr. Jamal was held stretched well beyond the jazz world. Clint Eastwood used two tracks from "But Not for Me" on the soundtrack of his film of "The Bridges of Madison County." ..
NYT obit here
"...In a career that would bring him a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master award, a lifetime achievement Grammy and induction into France's Order of Arts and Letters, Mr. Jamal made his mark with a stately approach that honored what he called the spaces in the music...
...Herbie Hancock and Keith Jarrett are among the prominent jazz pianists who looked to Mr. Jamal as an exemplar....
...By the time he joined the musicians' union at age 14, the celebrated jazz piano virtuoso Art Tatum had hailed him as "a coming great"...
...The reverence with which Mr. Jamal was held stretched well beyond the jazz world. Clint Eastwood used two tracks from "But Not for Me" on the soundtrack of his film of "The Bridges of Madison County." ..
