Ahmad Jamal Entertained Columbia High School Students...

...for five consecutive class periods in my British Literature class today. Students work on quarter projects every Friday. This work usually is done with intense concentration and silence. However, silence sounds to me like Jimi Hendrix solos sounded like to 90-year-old grannies in '67. I begged them to let me at least provide some (what I called) "ambient noise" while they worked, so I unleashed Jamal's early '50s Epic recordings on them. No complaints. Though the stuff toes the easy-listening line, it's beautiful, deceptively complex, and perfect for concentration. I even saw toes tapping. I gave 'em a little background on Jamal's impact on Miles' thinking--but you can't bring any music gods up without providing about 15-20 minutes of background. Some of my 17- and 18-year olds haven't heard (of) the Beatles.