The Ahmad Jamal Trio

The Ahmad Jamal Trio was the working group of the American jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal (1930-2023), born in Pittsburgh. Its classic line-up, with Israel Crosby on bass and Vernel Fournier on drums, was known for its use of space and understatement, and for the live recording of "Poinciana" made at Chicago's Pershing Hotel in 1958, which Miles Davis admired. Jamal first led a trio called The Three Strings with guitarist Ray Crawford, and Crosby later joined on bass. Fournier took Crawford's place, turning the group into a piano, bass and drums trio, and that line-up lasted until 1962.