Ahmad Jamal
Andy Evans
1. What happened to the Alhambra Club he opened in the 60's in Chicago - how
long did it last and why did it close?
2. Any discographies on the net? I want to see if there are recordings with
the earlier groups that elude me
Thanks Andy
Michael Fitzgerald
<arts.ps...@cwcom.net> wrote:
>2. Any discographies on the net? I want to see if there are recordings with
>the earlier groups that elude me
The Argo/Cadet label listing on my WWW site might be of use. Other
than a couple of records with Columbia/Epic before then, all his early
work is on that label.
>1. What happened to the Alhambra Club he opened in the 60's in Chicago - how
>long did it last and why did it close?
As for the Alhambra, I think it's a law that musicians can't own
successful clubs - the Brecker Brothers, Count Basie, Buddy Rich,
Eddie Condon - I guess the last was around the longest. I would be
interested to hear more on this (I think the name existed much longer
than Condon was involved - there were 3 clubs, I believe). But Jamal's
club was a very special case.
Down Beat February 2, 1961 said:
-------
Ahmad Jamal's restaurant-night club, which was originally reported to
open in December, will open its doors February 3. It will be called
the Al Hambra and will boast Pakistani, Indian, Mid-Eastern, and
American cuisine. No alcoholic beverages will be served. Jamal's trio
will be featured most of the year.
-------
Down Beat featured an article on AJ and the Alhambra on March 16,
1961. The story said it was "scheduled to open in mid-February".
Here are a few interesting excerpts:
-------
"I don't *think* it will be successful," he said. "I *know* it will be
successful, because I know what the public wants and because the
Alhambra is more than just a moneymaker; it is a contribution - one of
the finest restaurants in the world. Any room can go out of business
because of bad management. Successful management," he lectured from
behind his raised finger, "makes successful business."
"We know we can make it, and the only way is *not* to sell alcoholic
beverages," the nonsmoker, nondrinker continued. "The best beverages
are those nonalcoholic in content. We shall provide the finest in
entertainment." He allowed that it was correct that his trio would
open the club.
-------
Well, apparently Jamal didn't know what the public wanted. The
listings in Down Beat seem to indicate that the club didn't last into
1962. And Jamal's trio was "until further notice" for nearly all of
those issues. During the short life of the club, Jamal managed to
record a live album there (June 1961), but it seems that not too many
artists can claim they played there.
2/16/61 Alhambra not listed
3/2/61 Alhambra not listed
3/16/61 Alhambra not listed (article quoted above)
3/30/61 Alhambra not listed
4/13/61 Alhambra not listed
4/27/61 Alhambra not listed
5/11/61 Alhambra not listed
5/25/61 Alhambra not listed (but Jamal album rec. in June)
6/8/61 Alhambra not listed
6/22/61 Ahmad Jamal
7/6/61 Alhambra not listed
7/20/61 Ahmad Jamal
(don't have issue)
8/17/61 Ahmad Jamal (to 8/9) Jackie and Roy (8/10-20)
8/31/61 Jackie and Roy (8/10-20)
9/14/61 Ahmad Jamal
9/28/61 Ahmad Jamal
10/12/61 Ahmad Jamal
(don't have these issues, but I wonder who might have played there...)
11/23/61 no clubs listing
12/7/61 Ahmad Jamal
12/21/61 Ahmad Jamal
On May 10, 1962, Down Beat had a shorter piece on the troubles of AJ -
-------
"Ahmad Jamal has been much in the news lately. Late last year he
closed his club, the Alhambra in Chicago, after struggling for seven
months to make a go of the no-alcohol establishment."
--------
It goes on to discuss his divorce and a libel suit against Jet
magazine.
Well, now you know more about the Alhambra than you ever wanted. If
only someone like Jack Tracy who was probably there could comment -
Jack?
Mike
Calliotte/Horn
It's postings like yours that make this whole NG thing more than worthwhile.
Walter Horn
Michael Fitzgerald wrote in message <369fe11b....@news.eclipse.net>...