Jamal Is Still a Giant After All These Years

It’s an old story now--Miles Davis’ often stated affection for the playing of pianist Ahmad Jamal. In Davis’ autobiography, in fact, he frequently refers to the Jamal qualities he found so appealing--dramatic pacing filled with contrasting dynamics, a buoyant rhythmic flow and the frequent use of songs, often from the musical theater, not often heard in jazz in the ‘50s.

All those qualities, and more, were on display in the opening set by the Jamal Trio on Tuesday night at the Jazz Bakery. Working with bassist James Cammack, who has been a musical associate of Jamal’s for 18 years, and drummer James Johnson--a more recent arrival who has now become well integrated into the group--the pianist entertained with a programranging from originals to a standard or two, climaxing with a necessary run through his hit “Poinciana.”

A musical Cubist at heart, Jamal’s typical approach was to assemble congeries of familiar, accessible elements--rich harmonies, rhapsodic keyboard sweeps, miniaturist melodies--in startling, new perspectives. Nothing was ever quite what it seemed, even in a familiar standard such as “Like Someone in Love.” Fragments of melody suddenly erupted into explosive chording, followed by theatrical drop-offs into complete silence.

If there was a problem with the set, it was the minimal amount of familiar material. Jamal can be a first-rate composer, and the originals he included in the program offered intriguing qualities. Lacking the instant reference point that standards provide, however, it was difficult to fully relate to Jamal’s capacity to transform his material, to deconstruct and reassemble while still retaining contact with the original theme.

Still, Jamal is one of the fully potent survivors of the great creative jazz wave of the post-World War II years. Hearing him is hearing an icon in action, working in a style that is as alive now as it was five decades ago.

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* The Ahmad Jamal Trio at the Jazz Bakery. 3233 Helms Ave. Tonight through Sunday at 8 and 9:30 p.m. $25. (310) 271-9039.