Jamal has a reputation for sparseness and subtlety in his playing, fostered by his 1958 hit “Poinciana.” Yet he’s never been quite so one-dimensional. It immediately kept bassist James Cammack busy, drummer James Johnson III surging and percussionist Manolo Badrena leaping from one instrument to another within his splendid setup. Even when he played his signatures, “Poinciana” and “Swahililand,” Jamal refused to fall into routine. He reconceived the rhythms of “Poinciana” — even as Johnson played the familiar New Orleans beat from the single — and pinned rippling new tails onto the song’s phrases. “Swahililand” took on a funk urgency, an in-the-pocket thump with Jamal and Johnson locking into each other while Badrena softly accented them with conga.

Source: Washington Post February 09, 2020 21:22 UTC