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Measured maestro of the jazz piano, Ahmad Jamal, dies at 92

LEILA FADEL, HOST:

Ahmad Jamal, storied jazz pianist and bandleader, has died at 92. His career spanned over seven decades.

(SOUNDBITE OF AHMAD JAMAL'S "POINCIANA")

A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:

Jamal's 1958 album "At The Pershing: But Not For Me" stayed on the charts for 108 weeks. In 2014, he told NPR he kind of saw it coming.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED NPR BROADCAST)

AHMAD JAMAL: I just knew that we had something of value. I had the feeling that it was going to be a success - not to the extent that - of course, you can't be that clairvoyant.

MARTÍNEZ: Jamal inspired countless jazz musicians.

FADEL: Including Miles Davis, who once said, all my inspiration comes from Ahmad Jamal.

(SOUNDBITE OF AHMAD JAMAL TRIO'S "I LOVE MUSIC")

FADEL: His lush playing has also been widely sampled by hip-hop artists. Pianist Jason Moran isn't at all surprised by Jamal's enduring appeal.

JASON MORAN: Ahmad is timeless in a way that almost doesn't age. So there's something about what he - how he perforated the music, the air that he kind of infuses into it that always allows for the contemporary listener, no matter what decade they are in, to kind of fit themselves inside or have a moment to digest a crazy phrase he just played, you know?

(SOUNDBITE OF AHMAD JAMAL TRIO'S "I LOVE MUSIC")

MARTÍNEZ: Jamal played shows and released new recordings well into his 80s. He reflected on the inevitability of death.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED NPR BROADCAST)

JAMAL: You can't take anything with you. Only thing that's going in there is, what did you do? What did you do? That's all that's going in there because paradise and hell begin right here, in my opinion. I've experienced both a little bit - just a little bit. I hope I can experience a whole lot of paradise in this world and in the hereafter. Believe me.

FADEL: Ahmad Jamal leaves a little bit of paradise for the rest of us to enjoy.

(SOUNDBITE OF AHMAD JAMAL'S "AUTUMN RAIN") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.