Count 'Em 88 - Ahmad Jamal Trio (1956)

Ideated from: a favorite album that starts with a “8”

I cheated again, because the only other “8” album I could find was Kanye’s 808s & Heartbreak. I have a hard enough time figuring out what to say about Kanye (which is why I haven’t said much of anything) let alone one of his more odd and uninteresting records that he basically made to prove he could.

Instead I give you an early record from the great Jamal and his trio. It’s not one that will land on a lot of favorites lists, but it has all the same things that make his more famous records great: cerebral, classy, melodic playing with a great sense of galloping rhythm.