Khan Jamal - Unsung Heroes
Khan Jamal has been playing the vibraphone and marimbas in the
Philadelphia and NYC area as well as touring extensively in Europe for going
on 4 decades. Having studied at Granoff School of Music and Combs College
as well as with Bill Lewis, the Philadelphia vibraphonist, he began an association
with the renowned improvisational drummer, Sunny Murray back in the 60's
that has lasted to this day. His appetite for all ranges of music and a
distaste for marketing himself not uncommon among gifted performers has
led to a lack of notoriety, except among fellow artists who acknowledge
his skill and musical leadership. Uncomfortable with the label jazz, as
are many of his fellow muscians, Khan prefers the term creative improvised
music. Some of his explorations with David Murray, Frank Wright and Sunny
Murray led him to be tagged as an avant garde musician, playing primarily
abstract 'out' music. The label illustrates formal jazz criticism's tendency
to use sophisticated analysis as a mask for pigeonholing and consequently
rendering an incomplete perspective. And, coincidentally, perpetuating the
same old thing. As Sun Ra said, 'they're on the right road all the time,
they're going the wrong direction'. In fact, recordings such as 'Thinking
of You' reveal more of Khan's sensibility and accessibility even to
inexperienced music listeners, playing with a warmth and joy that would
surprise his avant garde labelists.
I first heard Khan 20 yrs ago, performing at the Tin Palace in NYC, which
then had a format for new music on Sundays. Since then I have heard him
perform many times in the Philadelphia area, though not near frequent enough
for a player of his stature and gifts. I always look forward to his performances,
I call them 'music lessons', his playing always in touch with a pure sense
of melody like a guideline thru imagination. There was a time, now years
back at a club called the Gaslight in Mt. Holly, N.J., while performing
Coltrane's version of 'My Favorite Things', he established a low frequency
vibrato thru pedal damping, the vibes literally seeming to 'glow' as he
raced over the keys above, much like Coltrane's split register work. The
effect was remarkable, enough to merit staying in touch with Khan Jamal,
one of many Unsung Heroes (the song Unsung Heroes appears on The Traveller).
Discography
Some Audio Samples
Khan Jamal at Tin Palace, NYC, 1976
Return to the Philadelphia Story
all images copyright K W Billerts 1997 except
where noted
text can be used if credited to K W Billerts
and I am notified by email