# Ahmad Jamal

> American jazz pianist (1930-2023)

**Wikidata**: [Q379613](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q379613)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmad_Jamal)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ahmad-jamal

## Summary
Ahmad Jamal (1930–2023) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and recording artist, born Frederick Russell Jones, whose career spanned over seven decades beginning in 1948. A distinctive figure in the jazz genre, he was associated with major subgenres including cool jazz, hard bop, modal jazz, and post-bop, and recorded for prominent labels such as Atlantic, OKeh, and Philips Records. His enduring influence on music was recognized with prestigious honors, including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and the NEA Jazz Masters award.

## Biography
- **Born**: July 2, 1930
- **Died**: April 16, 2023
- **Nationality**: United States
- **Birth Name**: Frederick Russell Jones
- **Education**: Q7988945
- **Known for**: Jazz piano, cool jazz, hard bop, modal jazz
- **Employer(s)**: Atlantic Records, OKeh Records, Philips Records
- **Field(s)**: Jazz, Performing Arts
- **Occupation**: Pianist, Composer, Musician

## Contributions
Ahmad Jamal's primary contributions lie in his extensive work as a recording artist and musician within the jazz genre. Active from 1948 until his passing in 2023, he helped shape the sound of modern jazz through his association with key subgenres such as cool jazz, hard bop, modal jazz, and post-bop. He contributed to the catalogs of several major record labels, including Atlantic Records (an American label founded in 1947 and known for rhythm and blues and jazz), OKeh Records (an American imprint established in 1918), and Philips Records (a Dutch international label founded in 1946). His work also intersects with hip hop culture, highlighting his broad influence across musical styles.

## FAQs
**What was Ahmad Jamal's birth name?**
Ahmad Jamal was born Frederick Russell Jones on July 2, 1930.

**Which record labels did Ahmad Jamal work with?**
Throughout his career, Jamal recorded for several notable labels, including Atlantic Records, OKeh Records, and Philips Records.

**What genres of music is Ahmad Jamal associated with?**
He is associated with a wide range of styles, primarily jazz, including subgenres such as cool jazz, hard bop, modal jazz, and post-bop, as well as hip hop culture.

**What awards did Ahmad Jamal receive?**
Jamal was the recipient of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and the NEA Jazz Masters award.

**When did Ahmad Jamal's career begin and end?**
His work period began in 1948 and continued until his death on April 16, 2023.

## Why They Matter
Ahmad Jamal matters as a foundational figure in American jazz whose career bridged the mid-20th century and modern eras. His contributions to cool jazz, modal jazz, and hard bop helped define the evolution of the genre. By recording for historically significant labels like Atlantic, OKeh, and Philips, he became part of the fabric of the recorded music industry's history. His recognition by the National Endowment for the Arts as a Jazz Master and his receipt of a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award signify his critical acclaim and lasting impact on the performing arts.

## Notable For
- **Career Longevity**: Active as a musician from 1948 to 2023.
- **Genre Influence**: Associated with cool jazz, hard bop, modal jazz, post-bop, and hip hop culture.
- **Major Label Affiliations**: Recorded for Atlantic Records, OKeh Records, and Philips Records.
- **Awards**: Recipient of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and the NEA Jazz Masters award.
- **Identity**: Born Frederick Russell Jones; changed name to Ahmad Jamal.
- **Digital Presence**: Maintained an official website at ahmadjamal.com and an Instagram presence under AhmadJamalMusic.

## Body
### Early Life and Identity
Ahmad Jamal was born on July 2, 1930, as Frederick Russell Jones. He was a citizen of the United States and spent his life contributing to the country's rich musical heritage. He received his education at the institution identified as Q7988945. Throughout his life, he was recognized as a member of the human species and specifically identified as a male individual within the performing arts sector.

### Career and Musical Style
Jamal's work period began in 1948, marking the start of a prolific career that would last over 70 years. His primary occupation was that of a pianist, composer, and musician. He was deeply embedded in the jazz genre, but his musical reach extended into several specific subgenres. He is noted for his contributions to **cool jazz**, a style associated with the U.S. West Coast that emerged around 1948. He also contributed to **hard bop**, an extension of bebop that originated in the mid-1950s, and **modal jazz**, a sub-genre that gained prominence in the late 1950s. Additionally, his work is associated with **post-bop**, a genre of small-combo jazz that emerged in the early 1960s, and **hip hop culture**.

### Record Labels and Affiliations
Throughout his career, Ahmad Jamal was affiliated with several influential record labels, contributing to their historical legacies.

*   **Atlantic Records**: Jamal recorded for Atlantic Records, an American label founded in 1947 by Ahmet Ertegün and Herb Abramson. This label is a subsidiary of Warner Music Group and is historically significant for its role in promoting rhythm and blues and jazz to mainstream audiences.
*   **OKeh Records**: He was also associated with OKeh Records, an American record label established in 1918 as an imprint of the Otto Heineman Phonograph Supply Company.
*   **Philips Records**: Jamal's work included recordings for Philips Records, a Dutch international record label founded in 1946. Philips Records was headquartered in Amsterdam and eventually became part of PolyGram and later Universal Music Group, representing a major force in the global phonographic industry.

### Recognition and Awards
Jamal's contributions to music were formally recognized by some of the most prestigious institutions in the arts. He was a recipient of the **Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award**, a music award given to individual performers or groups who have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording. He also received the **NEA Jazz Masters** award from the National Endowment for the Arts, the highest honor that the United States bestows upon jazz musicians.

### Digital Presence and Legacy
In the modern era, Ahmad Jamal maintained a digital footprint to connect with audiences. His official website was located at ahmadjamal.com, and he could be found on Instagram under the handle AhmadJamalMusic. His influence is also cataloged in numerous databases, including MusicBrainz, Discogs, and IMDb, under various identifiers such as mn0000127369 and 164253.

### Related Entities
Within the broader context of the music industry and knowledge graph, Ahmad Jamal is connected to other key figures. He is listed in association with **Nicolas Jaar**, an American composer, musician, and record producer. His work is also contextually linked to the history of the United States, the development of jazz as a musical style, and the evolution of the recording industry through his label affiliations.

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. Biographical Dictionary of Afro-American and African Musicians
3. BnF authorities
4. IMDb
5. Montreux Jazz Festival Database
6. International Standard Name Identifier
7. MusicBrainz
8. Virtual International Authority File
9. SNAC
10. Discogs
11. [Ahmad Jamal, légende absolue du piano jazz, est mort à 92 ans](https://www.radiofrance.fr/francemusique/ahmad-jamal-legende-absolue-du-piano-jazz-est-mort-a-92-ans-3923247)
12. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
13. BBC Things
14. The Guardian