Jamil Nasser: Jazz in Russia

Penny Von Eschen‘s Satchmo Blows Up the World — observes Muneer Nasser in 2017’s Upright Bass: The Musical Life and Legacy of Jamil Nasser (in the chapter entitled ‘Getting the Soviets to Swing’) — “reinforces the myth that [Benny Goodman] introduced jazz to the Soviet Union”:

Benny Goodman became the first jazz musician to tour the Soviet Union for the State Department, making thirty appearances in six Soviet cities for May 28 through July 8, 1962.

Factually true but misleading, since The New York Jazz Quartet — pianist Oscar Dennard, trumpeter Idrees Sulieman, drummer Earl ‘Buster‘ Smith, and bassist Jamil Nasser (née George Joyner) — had performed in Moscow two years previously in July, 1960 “at clubs, private parties, and official functions.” In fact, the year prior – in June, 1959 – The Mitchell-Ruff Duo, had “played and taught at conservatories in Leningrad, Moscow, Kiev, Yalta, Sochi, and Riga,” notes Nasser.

However, would you be stunned to learn that the first African American jazz band, according to Nasser, was Benny Payton’s Jazz Kings featuring Sidney Bechet three decades prior in 1926? Sam Wooding, adds Nasser, toured Russia that same year, “with a mixed band, which included African-American musicians” (i.e., a European musical revue known as The Chocolate Kiddies).

The Washington Post‘s Richard Harrington — in his June 14, 1987 piece, “Into the Swing of Soviet Jazz” — would likewise attempt to clarify the historical record with regard to the under-recognized role of American jazz musicians in Russia as cultural ambassadors outside the purview of the US government:

Lest it be thought that American jazz tours were a product of the cultural exchanges of the ’60s, [Steve] Boulay [label owner, East Wind Trade Associates] points out that clarinetist Sidney Bechet and singer Ma Rainey, among others, toured Russia back in the ’20s. ‘A lot of American jazz bands went over there. They weren’t getting recognition in the United States so they went to Paris, and it was a natural jumping off point to exploring the continent.’

Jamil Nasser recalls the intense media interest following the New York Jazz Quartet’s 1960 Russian visit:

Seymour Krawitz, a young press agent Bill Doll had trained, called Dave Garroway and got us on The Today Show, The Tonight Show, an appearance on What’s My Line. We were Hot.

But that wasn’t why we had gone to the Soviet Union. We had gone, I suppose, mostly because it was there. We wanted the experience of visiting a foreign country that had been sealed tight to American modernism. And it all worked out beyond our wildest dreams. We had given some Russians an ‘Opening’ to a part of our culture they had known nothing about — to the music that had been invented in America and had evolved in amazing ways over the years. That we were the first jazz ambassadors to the Soviet Union since the 1920’s — well, that was our gift to them.

Five years prior, the United States government had seen the wisdom of deploying some of its top jazz musicians (Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington) as cultural ambassadors worldwide — thanks to the lobbying efforts of Adam Clayton Powell, who had just returned from the world’s first Afro-Asian Conference and had come to view “black culture, in particular jazz, as the best way to intervene in the Cold War cultural conflict, to win over the kind of hearts and minds of the countries in Africa and Asia,” as noted in the 2018 PBS documentary film, The Jazz Ambassadors.

Time Magazine‘s Billy Perrigo, in his December 22, 2017 piece “How the U.S. Used Jazz as a Cold War Secret Weapon,” provides some historical context —

The State Department had first realized jazz’s potential as a cold war weapon just three years before the Brubeck family found themselves in Poland [in 1958]. ‘In that moment, the US and the USSR both saw themselves as models for developing nations,’ says Penny Von Eschen, a professor at Cornell and an expert on the jazz ambassador program. ‘They were in fierce competition to win the hearts and minds of the world.’ Adam Clayton Powell Jr., a congressman with close ties to the jazz community, first suggested sending jazz musicians around the world on state-sponsored tours in 1955. No time was wasted, and by 1956 the first jazz ambassador, Dizzy Gillespie, was blowing America’s horn in the Balkans and the Middle East. ‘America’s secret weapon is a blue note in a minor key,’ proclaimed the New York Times.

Jamil Nasser:
A Chronological Discography
Based on Muneer Nasser’s research from Upright Bass

[Note: streaming audio links indicated in bold blue ink]

Phineas Newborn Jr. — “How High the Moon” b/w “‘Round About Midnight” — 1953 [Peacock 78]

Johnny Ace — “Cross My Heart” — 1953 [Duke A-side]

Phineas Newborn Jr. — Phineas’ Rainbow [RCA LP]

Bass – George Joyner
Drums – “Philly” Joe Jones
Piano – Phineas Newborn Jr.
Guitar – Calvin Newborn

Note: Recorded and released in 1956.

Link: streaming audio of “Clarisse“

Phineas Newborn Jr. — While My Lady Sleeps [RCA LP]

Note: Recorded and released in 1957.

Link: streaming audio of the title track.

Hank Mobley — Curtain Call [Blue Note LP]

Note: Album recorded on August 18, 1957 with Sonny Clark, Kenny Dorham, Jimmy Rowser, George Joyner & Art Taylor, though not released until 1984.

Link: streaming audio of the title track

Red Garland — Soul Junction -and- All Mornin’ Long [LPs on Prestige]

Bass – George Joyner
Drums – Arthur Taylor
Piano – Red Garland
Tenor Saxophone – John Coltrane
Trumpet – Donald Byrd
Recorded By – Rudy Van Gelder

Note: Soul Junction recorded the same day as All Mornin’ Long – Nov. 15, 1957 – yet the latter album released 1958, while the former album in 1960.

Link: streaming audio of Soul Junction [entire LP].+ All Mornin’ Long [entire LP]

Red Garland — High Pressure [Prestige LP]

Bass – George Joyner
Drums – Arthur Taylor
Piano – Red Garland
Tenor Saxophone – John Coltrane
Trumpet – Donald Byrd
Recorded By – Rudy Van Gelder

Note: High Pressure recorded Dec. 13, 1957 but not released until 1961.

Link: streaming audio of “What Is There To Say“

Red Garland — Dig It [Prestige LP]

Bass – George Joyner & Paul Chambers
Drums – Arthur Taylor
Piano – Red Garland
Tenor Saxophone – John Coltrane
Trumpet – Donald Byrd
Recorded By – Rudy Van Gelder

Note: Dig It recorded Mar. 22, 1957; Dec. 13, 1957 & Feb. 2, 1958 but not released until 1962.

Link: streaming audio of “Billie’s Bounce“

Lou Donaldson — Lou Takes Off [Blue Note LP]

Bass – George Joyner
Drums – Art Taylor
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson
Piano – Sonny Clark
Trombone – Curtis Fuller
Trumpet – Donald Byrd

Note: Album recorded December 15, 1957 — released 1958.

Link: streaming audio of “Sputnik“

Gene Ammons All Stars — The Big Sound + Groove Blues [LPs on Prestige]

Bass – George Joyner
Drums – Art Taylor
Alto Sax – John Coltrane
Baritone Sax – Pepper Adams
Flute – Jerome Richardson
Piano – Mal Waldron
Tenor Sax – Gene Ammons & Paul Quinichette

Note: The Big Sound and Groove Blues were both recorded on Jan. 3, 1958; former album released 1958, while the latter not released until 1961.

Link: streaming audio of The Big Sound [entire LP].+ Groove Blues [entire LP]

Herbie Mann — Just Wailin’ [Prestige LP]

Bass – George Joyner
Drums – Arthur Taylor
Flute – Herbie Mann
Tenor Saxophone – Charlie Rouse
Guitar – Kenny Burrell
Piano – Mal Waldron
Recorded By – Rudy Van Gelder

Note: Album recorded February 14, 1958 — released 1958.

Link: streaming audio of “Minor Groove“

Phineas Newborn Jr. — Fabulous Phineas [RCA LP]

Bass – George Joyner
Drums – Denzil Best
Piano – Phineas Newborn Jr.
Guitar – Calvin Newborn

Note: Album recorded Mar. 28 & Apr. 3, 1958 — released 1958.

Link: streaming audio of “No Moon at All“

Evans Bradshaw — Look Out [Riverside LP]

Bass – George Joyner
Drums – “Philly” Joe Jones
Piano – Evans Bradshaw

Note: Album recorded June 9, 1958 — released 1958.

Link: streaming audio of “The Prophet“

Randy Weston — New Faces at Newport [Metrojazz/MGM LP]

Bass – George Joyner & John Neves
Drums – G.T. Hogan & Jimmy Zitano
Piano – Randy Weston & Ray Santisi
Vibraphone – Lem Winchester

Note: Recorded live at Newport Jazz Festival July 5, 1958 — released 1958.

Red Garland Trio + Ray Barretto — Rojo [Prestige LP]

Bass – George Joyner
Congas – Ray Barretto
Drums – Charlie Persip
Piano – Red Garland
Recorded By – Rudy Van Gelder

Note: Recorded August 22, 1958 — released 1961.

Link: streaming audio of “Ralph J Gleason Blues“

Randy Weston — Little Niles [United Artists LP]

Bass – George Joyner
Drums – Charlie Persip
Piano, Written-By – Randy Weston
Trombone & Arranger – Melba Liston
Tenor Saxophone – Johnny Griffin
Trumpet – Idrees Sulieman & Ray Copeland
Liner Notes – Langston Hughes

Note: Recorded October, 1958 — released 1959.

Link: streaming audio of the title track

Melba Liston — Melba and Her Bones [Metrojazz/MGM LP]

Bass – George Joyner & George Tucker
Drums – Charlie Persip & Frank Dunlop
Guitar – Kenny Burrell
Piano – Ray Bryant
Trombone – Al Grey, Bennie Green, Benny Powell, Frank Rehak, Jimmy Cleveland & Melba Liston
Trombone & Tuba – Slide Hampton

Note: Recorded December, 1958 — released 1959.

Link: streaming audio of “Wonder Why“

Lionel Hampton — Golden Vibes — [Columbia LP]

Bass – George Joyner & John Mixon
Drums – Bill Hogan
Guitar – Bill Mackel
Piano – Oscar Dennard
Reeds – Andrew McGhee, Robert Plater, Edward Pazant, Lonnie Shaw & Leon Zachery
Vibraphone – Lionel Hampton

Note: Released 1959.

Link: streaming audio of “Round Midnight“

Lester Young — Lester Young in Paris [Verve LP]

Double Bass – Jamil Nasser
Drums – Kenny Clarke
Guitar – Jimmy Gourley
Piano – René Urtreger
Tenor Saxophone – Lester Young

Note: Recorded March 4, 1959 at the Hoche Studio, Paris — released 1960.

Oscar Dennard — Legendary Oscar Dennard [Somethin’ Else Classics CD]

Bass – George Joyner
Drums – Buster Smith
Piano – Oscar Dennard
Trumpet – Idrees Sulieman

Note: All selections recorded July 1958 in Tangier — recorded at Radio Tangier International Studio with Ampex Tape Recorder, one Altec condenser microphone. Eventually released 1989. on compact disc by Japanese label, Somethin’ Else.

Idrees Sulieman Quartet Featuring Oscar Dennard — The 4 American Jazz Men in Tangier [Sunnyside 2-CD set]

Bass – Jamil Nasser
Drums – Buster Smith
Piano – Oscar Dennard
Trumpet – Idrees Sulieman

Note: Tracks 1 to 7 recorded July 1958 in Tangier at Radio Tangier International Studio with Ampex Tape Recorder and 1 Altec condenser microphone [previously released as The Legendary Oscar Dennard — double disc set released 2017].
Note: Tracks 8 to 13 recorded in March or April, 1959 in New York (allegedly at Quincy Jones’s apartment).

Flavio Ambrosetti — “It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing” [Enja CD]

Bass – George Joyner
Drums – Buster Smith
Alto Saxophone – Flavio Ambrosetti
Trumpet – Raymond Court
Piano – George Gruntz

Note: Track recorded at Switzerland’s RSI Lugano, Studio 2, January 19, 1962 — released in 1996 on German 2-CD Flavio Amborsetti anthology, Anniversary.

Link: streaming audio of “It Don’t Mean a Thing“

Buddy Collette — The Polyhedric Buddy Collette [Music Records LP]

Note: Tracks recorded March 1961 — released in 1961 (only in Italy) and reissued several times since, most recently 2015.

Note: “Published in 1961 by Music of Walter and Ernest Guertler, this LP is a
must-witness the meeting of one of the most prestigious soloists Americans
visiting Italy, with jazz musicians of our house, supported by a flawless
Dusko Gojkoviv, of Slavic origin” [musician credits, click here].

Link: streaming audio of “Blues for Nicola“

Eric Dolphy — The Berlin Concerts [Inner City LP]

Bass – George Joyner
Drums – Buster Smith
Piano – Pepsi Auer
Trumpet – Benny Bailey
Alto Saxophone, Bass Clarinet & Flute – Eric Dolphy

Note: Recorded August 30th 1961 at Funkturm Exhibition Hall, Berlin — all other titles recorded at Club ‘Jazz-Saloon’, Berlin; first released 1978, with numerous other releases worldwide.

Franco Cerri — International Jazz Meeting [Columbia Italy LP]

Bass – George Joyner & K.T. Geier
Drums – Buster Smith & Eberard Stengel
Guitar & Bass – Franco Cerri
Piano – George Gruntz
Alto Saxophone – Flavio Ambrosetti
Tenor & Soprano Saxophone – Barney Wilen

Note: Italian release only — first issued 1961, reissued 2009 [“A vinyl reissue of a VERY RARE European jazz album! Only 1,000 copies pressed!”].

George Joyner Quartet — George Joyner Quartet [Cetra EP]

Bass – George Joyner
Drums – Mondini
Alto Sax & Flute – Pelzer
Piano – Lama

Note: Italian EP release only — issued 1961.

Lilian Terry — Four of Us 45 [Italian 45]

Note: “Recorded in Milan, on December, 1961 together with the first volume. The singer [Lilian Terry] on two exciting jazz tunes in English, still accompanied by the Swiss George Gruntz on piano and by the two Americans, George Joyner on double bass and Buster Smith on drums” — released 1962 in Italy on CGD.

Ahmad Jamal — Naked City Theme [Argo/Chess LP]

Bass – Jamil Sulieman
Drums – Chuck Lampkin
Piano – Ahmad Jamal

Note: Recorded at San Francisco’s Jazz Workshop on June 26-28 1964 — released 1964,

Link: streaming audio of “One for Miles“

Ahmad Jamal — Roar of the Greasepaint Smell of the Crowd [Argo/Chess LP]

Bass – Jamil S. Nasser
Drums – Chuck Lampkin
Piano – Ahmad Jamal
Engineer – Tommy Nola

Note: Recorded at Nola Penthouse Studio, New York City, on Feb. 24 & 25, 1965 -released 1965.

Link: streaming audio of “It Isn’t Enough“

Ahmad Jamal — Extensions [Argo/Chess]

Bass – Jamil S. Nasser
Drums – Vernel Fournier
Piano – Ahmad Jamal
Engineer – Tommy Nola

Note: Recorded at Nola Penthouse Studio, New York City, on May 18-20, 1965 -released 1965.

Link: streaming audio of the title track

Ahmad Jamal — Rhapsody [Cadet/Chess]

Bass – Jamil S. Nasser
Drums – Vernel Fournier
Piano – Ahmad Jamal
Engineer – Tommy Nola

Note: On four tracks, the trio is accompanied by a fifteen-piece orchestra of violins, violas and cellos — title reads Ahmad Jamal With Strings – Rhapsody.

Note: Recorded Dec. 15-17, 1965 at Nola Studios, NYC — released 1966.

Link: streaming audio of “This Could Be the Start of Something“

Ahmad Jamal — Heatwave [Cadet/Chess LP]

Bass – Jamil Nasser
Drums – Frank Gant
Piano – Ahmad Jamal

Note: Recorded August 1966 at Edgewood Recording Studio, Washington DC — released 1966.

Link: streaming audio of the title track

Ahmad Jamal — Cry Young [Cadet/Chess LP]

Bass – Jamil S. Nasser
Drums – Frank Gant
Piano, Arranged By [Trio, Vocals] – Ahmad Jamal
Score [Vocal Scoring] – Hale Smith
Vocals [Ensemble] – The Howard Roberts Chorale

Note: Recorded at Fine Recording Studios, New York City, June 12 & 13, 1967 — released 1967.

Note: Album reached #19 on Billboard’s Best-Selling Jazz Albums chart in 1967 — includes Jamil Nasser composition, “Tropical Breeze.”

Ahmad Jamal — The Bright, The Blue, and the Beautiful [Cadet/Chess LP]

Bass – Jamil Sulieman
Drums – Frank Grant
Piano – Ahmad Jamal
Choir – The Howard A. Roberts Chorale*
Conductor – Hale Smith

Note: Recorded February 12 & 13, 1968 at Fine Recording Studios, New York — Released 1968.

Link: streaming audio of “By Myself“

Ahmad Jamal — Tranquility [ABC Records LP]

Bass – Jamil Sulieman
Drums – Frank Gant
Piano – Ahmad Jamal
Producer – Bob Thiele

Note: Released in 1968 — remixed for quadrophonic sound in 1973.

Link: streaming audio of the title track

Ahmad Jamal — At the Top: Poinciana Revisited [Impulse!/ABC LP]

Bass – Jamil Sulieman
Drums – Frank Gant
Piano & Producer – Ahmad Jamal

Note: Johnny Pate, associate producer — liner notes by Ralph J. Gleason; released 1968.

Link: streaming audio of “Have You Met Miss Jones“

The Ahmad Jamal Trio — The Awakening [Impulse!/ABC LP]

Bass – Jamil Nasser
Drums – Frank Gant
Piano – Ahmad Jamal

Note: Recorded at Plaza Sound Studios, New York City on Feb. 2-3, 1970 — released 1970.

Link: streaming audio of the entire album

Ahmad Jamal — Freeflight [Impulse!/ABC LP]

Bass – Jamil Sulieman
Drums – Frank Gant
Piano & Fender Rhodes – Ahmad Jamal

Note: Recorded in performance July 17, 1971 at the Montreux Jazz Festival – released 1971.

Note: Billboard review from Mar. 4, 1972 edition: “‘Poinciana’ impresses you from the first with its dramatic, pop-appeal power, but Jamal scores on all cuts. A very excellent album.”

Link: streaming audio of “Manhattan Reflections“

Ahmad Jamal — Outertimeinnerspace [Impulse!/ABC LP]

Bass – Jamil Sulieman
Drums – Frank Gant
Piano & Fender Rhodes – Ahmad Jamal

Note: Recorded in performance July 17, 1971 at the Montreux Jazz Festival – released 1972.

Link: streaming audio of “Extensions“

Ahmad Jamal — Jamalca [20th Century Fox LP]

Bass – Jamil Nasser & Richard Evans
Drums – Brian Grice & Frank Gant
Vocals – Charles Colbert, Jimmy Spink, Marilyn Haywood, Morra Stewart & Vivian Haywood (Harreel)
Piano & Fender Rhodes – Ahmad Jamal
Arranger & Conductor – Richard Evans

Note: Recorded at Chicago’s P.S. Recording Studios — released in 1974 [Inaugural album for 20th Century Fox by Ahmad Jamal, the label’s only jazz artist].

Link: streaming audio of “Theme from M*A*S*H“

Ahmad Jamal — Jamal Plays Jamal [20th Century Fox LP]

Bass – Jamil Nasser
Drums – Frank Gant
Congas – Azzedin Weston
Piano & Fender Rhodes – Ahmad Jamal

Note: Recorded at Generation Sound Studios, New York City — released 1974.

Link: streaming audio of the entire album

Ahmad Jamal — Genetic Walk [20th Century Fox LP]

Note: Jamil Nasser plays bass on “Chaser” — album released 1980.

Link: streaming audio of “Chaser“

Al Haig & Jimmy Raney — Strings Attached [Choice LP]

Bass – Jamil Nasser
Drums – Frank Gant
Guitar – Jimmy Raney
Piano – Al Haig

Note: Recorded at Macdonald Studio in Sea Cliff, NY — released 1975.

Link: streaming audio of “Enigma“

Al Haig — Interplay [Seabreeze Records LP]

Bass – Jamil Nasser
Piano – Al Haig

Note: Recorded on Nov. 16, 1976 at United/Western Studio in Hollywood, California — released 1976.

Al Haig — Serendipity [Interplay Records LP]

Bass – Jamil Nasser
Drums – Jimmy Wormworth
Piano – Al Haig

Note: Recorded Feb. 18, 1977 at RCA Recording Studio in New York City — released 1977.

Link: streaming audio of “All Blues“

Al Haig — Portrait of Bud Powell [Interplay LP]

Bass – Jamil Nasser
Drums – Frank Gant
Piano – Al Haig

Note: Recorded July 11, 1977 at RCA Recording Studios, NYC — released 1978 in US and Japan.

Link: streaming audio of “Celia“

Al Haig — Reminiscence [Progressive Records LP]

Bass – Jamil Nasser
Drums – Frank Gant
Piano – Al Haig

Note: Recorded July 22, 1977 at Downtown Sound Studio in New York City — released 1977 in Japan; 1990 in US and Canada as Ornithology, with a couple song substitutions.

Link: streaming audio of “Bluebird“

Al Haig Trio — Enigma [Jazz Ball Records LP]

Note: Recorded November 2, 1977 — released 2009 in Europe.

Link: streaming audio of “Woody ‘n You“

Louis Smith Quintet — Just Friends [Steeple Chase LP]

Bass – Jamil Nasser
Drums – Ray Mosca
Piano – Harold Mabern
Tenor Saxophone – George Coleman
Trumpet & Flugelhorn – Louis Smith

Note: Recorded March 19, 1978 — released 1978 in Denmark and Japan.

Link: streaming audio of “I Remember Clifford“

Cybill Shepherd — Vanilla [Peabody LP]

Note: Recorded at Phillips Recording in Memphis, Tennessee — released 1979.

Al Haig — Expressly Ellington [Spotlite LP]\

Note: Recorded Saturday, October 14th, 1978 — released 1979 in the UK.

Link: streaming audio of “Just Squeeze Me“

Al Haig Trio — Un Poco Loco [Spotlite LP]

Bass – Jamil Nasser
Drums – Tony Mann
Piano – Al Haig
Liner Notes – Hiroki Sugita

Note: “Unreleased recordings done in 1978 in London. This is the first release in the world” — released 1999 by Spotlite, Japanese label.

Link: streaming audio of “Confirmation“

Mari Nakamoto — Something Blue [Zen Label LP]

Acoustic Bass – Jamil Nasser
Alto Saxophone – Frank Strozier
Drums – Louis Haynes
Electric Guitar – Joe Beck
Electric Piano – Barry Miles
Flute – Frank Strozier
Piano – Harold Mabern
Vocals – Mari Nakamoto

Note: Recorded, edited & mixed at London’s Olympic Sound Studios on 14 May 1979 — released 1980 in Japan.

Harold Mabern — Pisces Calling [Trident LP]

Bass – Jamil Nasser
Drums – Walter Bolden
Piano – Harold Mabern

Note: Released 1980.

Link: streaming audio of the title track

Al Haig — Plays the Music of Jerome Kern [Inner City Records LP]

Bass – Jamil Nasser
Piano – Al Haig

Note: Recorded at Downtown Sound, NYC — liner Notes by Leonard Feather; released 1980.

Link: streaming audio of “The Way You Look Tonight“

Red Garland — Wee Small Hours [FullHouse Records]

Bass – Jamil Nasser
Drums – Jimmy Cobb
Piano – Red Garland
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson

Note: Recorded and/or released February 5, 1980 in Japan.

Link: streaming audio of “My Romance“

Lou Donaldson w/ Red Garland Trio — Fine and Dandy [LDR Digital LP]

Acoustic Bass – Jamil Nasser
Drums – Jimmy Cobb
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson
Piano – Red Garland

Note: “Recording at The Koseinenkin Hall on 6th Feb. 1980” — released 1980 in Japan.

Lee Willhite — First Venture [Tampa Records LP]

Bass – Jamil Nasser
Drums – Frank Gant
Piano – Harold Mabern
Alto Saxophone – George Coleman
Vocals – Lee Willhite

Note: Recorded October 22, 1981 — released 1982.

Link: streaming audio of “The World Is a Ghetto“

The Red Garland Trio — Misty Red [Baystate LP]

Bass – Jamil Nasser
Drums – Frank Gant
Piano – Red Garland

Note: Recorded April 12-13, 1982 — first released 1983 in Japan.

Link: streaming audio of “If I Were a Bell“

Eddie Heywood — Now [Lyn LP]

Note: Released [1982].

Kay Boyd — First Slice [Spotlight LP]

Bass – Jamil Nasser
Drums – Frank Gant
Piano – Harold Mabern
Alto Sax – George Coleman
Vocals – Kay Boyd

Note: Recorded At Quadrasonic Sound Systems, New York City.

Note: Album issued in the UK only — released 1983.

George Coleman — Manhattan Panorama [Theresa Records LP]

Bass – Jamil Nasser
Drums – Idris Muhammad
Piano – Harold Mabern
Alto & Tenor Saxophones – George Coleman

Note: Released 1985 in the US and Germany.

Link: streaming audio of “New York Suite“

Randy Weston — Portraits of Thelonious Monk: Well You Needn’t [Verve LP]

Bass – Jamil Nasser
Drums – Idris Muhammad
Percussion – Eric Asante
Piano – Randy Weston

Note: “Digitally recorded June 3 1989 at Studio Ferber, Paris France” — released 1989. (Netherlands) and 1990 (US and France).

Link: streaming audio of the title track

Randy Weston — Portraits of Duke Ellington: Caravan [Verve LP]

Bass – Jamil Nasser
Percussion – Eric Asante & Idris Muhammad
Piano – Randy Weston

Note: “Digitally recorded on June 4, 1989 at Studios Ferber, Paris, France” — released 1990 in the US and Netherlands.

Link: streaming audio of “Caravan“

Randy Weston — Self Portraits: The Last Day [Verve LP]

Bass – Jamil Nasser
Drums – Idris Muhammad
Percussion – Eric Asante
Piano – Randy Weston

Note: Recorded June 5, 1989 at Studios Ferber, Paris — released 1990 in France, US, Japan, and the Netherlands.

Link: streaming audio of “The Last Day“

Lewis Keel — Coming Out Swinging [Muse LP]

Bass – Jamil Nasser
Drums – Leroy Williams
Guitar – Jimmy Ponder
Piano – Harold Mabern
Alto Saxophone – Lewis Keel

Note: Recorded August 9, 1990 — released 1992.

Randy Weston — The Spirits of Our Ancestors [Verve 2-CD set]

Musicians on “African Sunrise”:

Bass – Jamil Nasser & Alex Blake
Drums – Idris Muhammad
Percussion – Azzedin Weston & Big Black
Alto Saxophone – Talib Kibwe
Tenor Saxophone – Billy Harper & Dewey Redman
Trombone – Benny Powell
Trumpet – Dizzy Gillespie & Idrees Sulieman
Arranger – Melba Liston
Piano & Composer – Randy Weston

Note: Jamil Nasser is on the left channel, Alex Blake is on the right channel.

Note: Recorded on May 20, 21 & 22, 1991 at BMG Studios in New York City — released 1992 in the US and France.

Link: streaming audio of “African Sunrise“

James Williams (et al.) — Memphis Convention [DWI CD]

Bass – Jamil Nasser
Drums – Tony Reedus
Guitar – Calvin Newborn
Piano – Charles Thomas, Donald Brown, Harold Mabern & Mulgrew Miller
Piano, Organ & Production – James Williams
Alto Saxophone – Lewis Keel
Alto and Tenor Saxophones, Clarinet & Flute – Bill Easley
Tenor Saxophone – George Coleman & Herman Green
Trumpet & Flugelhorn – Bill Mobley

Note: “1992 session of five Memphis piano greats organized by James Williams” – released 1993 in Japan.

Randy Weston & Melba Liston — Volcano Blues [Antilles/Verve CD]

Bass – Jamil Nasser
Drums – Charlie Persip
Percussion – Neil Clarke & Obo Addy
Guitar – Ted Dunbar
Guest Guitar – Johnny Copeland
Tenor Saxophone – Teddy Edwards
Trombone – Benny Powell
Trumpet – Wallace Roney
Alto Saxophone – Talib Kibwe
Baritone Saxophone – Hamiet Bluiett
Arranger & Director – Melba Liston
Piano – Randy Weston

Note: Recorded at BMG Studios, NYC — released 1993.

Ahmad Jamal — The Essence Part 1 [Verve CD]

Bass – James Cammack & Jamil Nasser
Drums – Idris Muhammad
Percussion – Manolo Badrena
Piano – Ahmad Jamal

Note: “Recorded on October 30-31, 1994 at Studio Marcadet, Paris, La Plaine St Denis, France and on February 6-7, 1995 at Clinton Studio, New-York City” — released 1995.

Link: streaming audio of “The Essence“

Ahmad Jamal — Big Byrd (The Essence Part 2) [Verve CD]

Bass – James Cammack & Jamil Nasser
Drums – Idris Muhammad
Percussion – Manolo Badrena
Trumpet – Donald Byrd
Violin – Joe Kennedy, Jr.
Piano – Ahmad Jamal

Note: “Recorded on October 30-31, 1994 at Studio Marcadet, Paris, La Plaine St Denis, France and on February 6-7, 1995 at Clinton Studio, New-York City” — released 1996 in the UK and Europe.

Link: streaming audio of “Lament“

George Coleman Quartet — I Could Write a Book [Telarc CD]

Bass – Jamil Nasser
Drums – Billy Higgins
Piano – Harold Mabern
Saxophone – George Coleman

Note: Recorded in Clinton Recording Studio A, New York City, January 8-9, 1998 — released 1998.

Calvin Newborn — Up City! [Yellow Dog CD]

Contrabass – Jamil Nasser
Drums – Tom Lonardo & Tony Reedus
Organ – Tony Thomas
Piano – Charles Thomas
Tenor Saxophone & Flute – Bill Easley
Trumpet, Flugelhorn & Arranging – Bill Mobley
Guitar & Production – Calvin Newborn

Note: Recorded at Ardent and Avatar Studios — “originally issued as Omnivarious Music OMCD 001, 1998” [reissued in 2005].

Link: streaming audio of the title track