Jazz pianist, born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. He began playing the piano at three and joined the musicians' union at 14. In 1952 he became the house pianist at the Lounge of the Pershing Hotel in Chicago with a guitarist and bassist, and his distinctive style, characterized by melodic understatement, harmonic inventiveness, and rhythmic lightness, attracted a small but fervent audience, among them Miles Davis. In 1956--9, Jamal's trio consisted of Israel Crosby on bass and Vernell Fournier on drums, and the three musicians developed a telepathic interplay. A live recording at the Pershing Lounge in 1958 stayed on the national best-selling lists for 108 weeks, one of the greatest popular successes in jazz history. Over the years, his style has become more complex melodically and less lyrical, but his deft touch and subtle shadings remain. 1953 But Not For MeAlbums 1959 PoincianaAlbums 1959 Ahmad Jamal, Volume IVAlbums 1959 Jamal At The PenthouseAlbums 1960 Happy MoodsAlbums 1960 Listen To The Ahmad Jamal QuintetAlbums 1961 Ahmad Jamal's AlhambraAlbums 1961 At The BlackhawkAlbums 1962 MacanudoAlbums 1963 /4 Naked City ThemeAlbums 1965 The Roar Of The GreasepaintAlbums 1965 ExtensionsAlbums 1966 HeatwaveAlbums 1967 Cry YoungAlbums 1968 The Bright, The Blue And The BeautifulAlbums 1968 TranquilityAlbums 1969 Jamal At The TopAlbums 1970 The AwakeningAlbums 1971 Free FlightAlbums 1971 OutertimeinnerspaceAlbums 1981 In Concert 1981 Live In Concert 1982 American Classical Music 1985 Live At Montreal Jazz Festival 1985Digital Works 1986 Rossiter RoadDigital Works Steppin' Out With A DreamAlbums