Ahmad Jamal–Ahmad Jamal’s Alhambra (1959 Argo LP-685)Deep Groove NM RARE quality
$
125
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Description
This is a true early pressing of one of Ahmad Jamal’s most important live recordings — Ahmad Jamal’s Alhambra, issued by Argo Records in 1959. Copies from this period rarely survive in this condition, making this example particularly desirable.
Recorded live at the Alhambra club in Chicago, this album captures Jamal at the height of his minimalist, blues-inflected approach — the same aesthetic that deeply influenced Miles Davis and reshaped modern piano trio jazz.
What separates this copy is pressing authenticity and preservation.
This is not a later Odyssey or budget reissue. It is an original Argo LP-685, early matrix, deep groove pressing, with both vinyl and jacket grading Near Mint — an exceptional survival for a record over 65 years old.
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PRESSING & MATRIX DETAILS (FOR COLLECTORS)
• Label: Argo Records (High-Fidelity)
• Catalog #: LP-685
• Year: 1959
• Pressing: Original / First Press
• Deep Groove: Yes (early Argo pressing trait)
• Matrices:
• Side A: M08Y-S-1 / 11148
• Side B: M08Y-1170-1D / 11149
• Format: Mono
These markings align with first-generation stampers, not later repressings.
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CONDITION (CONSERVATIVELY GRADED)
• Vinyl: NM
Clean surfaces, strong gloss, no feelable marks. Plays quietly with excellent dynamics.
• Jacket: NM
Sharp spine, clean edges, minimal corner wear. Exceptionally well-preserved for its age.
• Sleeve: Original Argo inner included.
True NM examples of Alhambra are exceedingly uncommon — most surviving copies show groove wear or jacket fatigue.
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WHY THIS RECORD MATTERS
• Core Ahmad Jamal discography
• Early live documentation of his signature “space and restraint” style
• Direct influence on Miles Davis and post-bop piano language
• Increasingly difficult to find in early-press NM condition
This is a collection anchor, not filler.
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PRICING CONTEXT
Early Argo first pressings of Ahmad Jamal’s Alhambra in Near Mint condition routinely sell in the $100–200 range, depending on preservation and matrix details. This copy sits firmly in the upper tier of surviving examples.
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SHIPPING & CARE
• Record removed from jacket for shipping
• Packed securely with rigid protection
• Ships fully insured
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