Mal Waldron

Archie Shepp & Mal Waldron - Left Alone Revisited (2002) {Enja Records ENJA CD 9141-2}
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© 2002 Enja Records | ENJA CD 9141-2
Jazz / Post Bop / Modal Music / Saxophone / Piano

The duo of Archie Shepp and Mal Waldron come together beautifully here – in a mode that echoes some of the duets that pianist Waldron recorded with other reedmen in the 70s and 80s, but which has an especially wonderful contribution from Shepp! Archie blows both tenor and soprano sax – and the warmth of his horn in later years is really perfect here – especially as the album's sometime of an update of Waldron's earlier Left Alone classic, recorded after the death of Billie Holiday at the end of the 50s. As with that one, the tunes here include some numbers very strongly tied to Billie's legacy, but the vibe is very different, and very personal along the lines of the spirit of Shepp and Waldron.

Mal Waldron's recording debut as a leader presents the pianist with his many gifts already well developed. For the 1956 quartet date, he takes charge to strike a balance between the sound of a blowing session and the refinement of a more polished date. The spontaneity is there, but the set also benefits from Waldron's thoughtful charts. At this stage of his development, Waldron was a distinctive bop pianist whose occasional sputtering, knotty phrasing revealed the acknowledged influence of Thelonious Monk, as well as similarities with contemporaries Al Haig and Bud Powell. For this set, though, the focus is not on Waldron's playing, but on his ability to lead from the piano bench…

One More Time is an intimate portrait of two neglected masters with a third master, Steve Lacy, stepping in to add his low-key tip of the hat. Mal Waldron and Jean-Jacques Avenel are the focus of this release that serves as a tribute to Waldron, one of jazz's most versatile pianists who died in 2002. One More Time was recorded and released in 2002, and features Steve Lacy's long time bassist Jean-Jacques Avenel who often played and recorded with Waldron. Two tracks feature Steve Lacy and two tracks feature Waldron's solo piano. This is an exceptional recording. The sound quality is superb and Waldron's crystalline technique and classical background are more evident than on most of his recordings.

Mal Waldron - Up Popped The Devil (1973) {Enja CD 9147-2 rel 2003}
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© 1973, 2003 Enja Records | Enja CD 9147-2
Jazz / Post Bop / Modal Music / Modern Creative / Hard Bop / Piano Trio

Pianist Mal Waldron's music is characterized by a heavily-brooding rhythmic quality, with the left hand usually carrying the theme at one repetitious tempo while the right hammers away in juxtaposition with a counter tempo (usually faster). Such was the case with "Up Popped the Devil," "Snake Out" and "Changachangachang," three very Waldronian pieces in both structure and execution, the latter deriving its melody from the whole-tone scale. Aside from Waldron, the record's strongest points were bassist Reggie Workman and drummer Billy Higgins, their work being sensitive and supportive throughout.