Jamal’s playing is warm, but fresh

Ahmad Jamal always adds a distinctive lexicon to his piano language.

Whether it is powerful statements from the bass notes of his left hand or melodies that are spoken in short, sometimes erratic bursts, it always is possible to tell who is musically speaking.

He opened his weekend stay on the North Side Thursday night with a concert that would draw complaints only in its length. He played for a little over an hour, which seems suitable for a club setting, but in a concert hall looks a bit lean.

That was the only leanness in his work, though. From his first moments at the Steinway to the last notes of the concert, he worked hard. He produced tunes that were full of his aggressive rhythmic approach as well as his immense knowledge of songs and pieces of them.

In his "After Fajr," for instance, his bottom-oriented solo suddenly offered a quick statement of the famous introduction to "All the Things You Are." In his version of "Like Someone in Love," he offered touches of classical phrasing that disappeared as fast as they emerged.

To fully grasp what the Pittsburgh native does, a listener has to pay attention. That sounds like work, perhaps, but it results in glimpses of ideas that don't last long and would be unheard by the casual ear.

Even when he is playing something familiar, such as "Poinciana," Jamal makes sure to vary his musical language enough to avoid repetition. Thursday night, his statements of the theme were offered in brisk notes that almost became staccato.

Jamal seems to feel obligated to play that near-theme. He has done it in every appearance here in the past 25 years -- and always freshly enough it has never been a drag.

Thursday, he made reference to playing a song "that only happens once," and the response from the audience seems to indicate they knew what was on the way.

He opened the concert with his, "Pittsburgh," a tune he said was his way of offering a hello to his hometown.

Backing Jamal were bassist James Cammack, who has been with him for more than 30 years, and drummer Idris Muhammed, who has been an off-and-on colleague for probably as long.

Their work shows that familiarity. They speak with the same rhythmic accent as Jamal, and he gives them plenty of room to show that off. At times, the pianist will quit playing altogether and simply watch the drummer or bassist as they offer a solo.

Piano trios can be a cliched part of jazz, as they sometimes provide little more than the music of a hotel restaurant. Than cannot be said about Jamal and his colleagues.

Additional Information:

Ahmad Jamal

Admission: $42.50

Where: Manchester Craftsmen's Guild, 1815 Metropolitan St., North Side

Details: 412-322-0800