Pimuins Guide to Mal Waldron Records

[Pim]

17 hours ago, Teasing the Korean said:

👍

So I just played this.  I found the solo piano tracks to be underwhelming.  The two long trio tracks were much more interesting, especially from a rhythmic standpoint.

Is it me, or am I hearing some weird pitch/tape speed issues at the end of "A.L.B.O.M."?  Talking like the last minute or so of the tune.

I've got the Japanese LP but can't recall any tape speed issues.

[Teasing the Korean]

26 minutes ago, Pim said:

I've got the Japanese LP but can't recall any tape speed issues.

Thanks.  Maybe it's just the CD.  Or my ears!

13 hours ago, romualdo said:

have you listened to any of the Steve Lacy/Mal Waldron collaborations - sublime stuff IMHO

My favourite is the Hat/Hatology 4CD set "Live At Dreher, 1981"

Also currently enjoying the recent CD reissue of Waldron/Terumasa's "Reminiscent Suite"

Thanks, not familiar with these.  

In looking at his discography as I sideman, I see that I have many albums that he plays on, but I didn't remember until I checked.

[Pim]

34 minutes ago, Teasing the Korean said:

Thanks.  Maybe it's just the CD.  Or my ears!

Thanks, not familiar with these.  

In looking at his discography as I sideman, I see that I have many albums that he plays on, but I didn't remember until I checked.

He's on a whole lot of Prestige records as a sideman. He was kind of the house pianist. But his playing there is mostly restrained and in a different style than his post 1965 records with a few exceptions when he played with Dolphy. Mal moved more into free territory after 1968 though his music always remained pretty structured. 

If you're looking for more interesting solo outings than the one you listened to:

The Opening (Clifford mentioned this one already)

Update (on Soul Note)

Meditations: Live at Dug (calmer than the Opening but with a lot of emotional depth)

And if you're looking for more of the rhythmic trio music you encountered at the last part of that cd:

Black Glory (on Enja with Jimmy Woode

Number Nineteen (like A.L.B.O.M. with excellent Dutch musicians and a little more exciting)

First Encounter (with Gary Peacock)

Blood and Guts (sounds like the title: heavy stuff and rhytmically very interesting)

Tokyo Bound (with two excellent Japanese musicians)

Free at Last (on ECM but not very ECMish, this is probably his best known)

 

 

[Teasing the Korean]

3 minutes ago, Pim said:

He's on a whole lot of Prestige records as a sideman. He was kind of the house pianist. But his playing there is mostly restrained and in a different style than his post 1965 records with a few exceptions when he played with Dolphy. Mal moved more into free territory after 1968 though his music always remained pretty structured. 

If you're looking for more interesting solo outings than the one you listened to:

The Opening (Clifford mentioned this one already)

Update (on Soul Note)

Meditations: Live at Dug (calmer than the Opening but with a lot of emotional depth)

And if you're looking for more of the rhythmic trio music you encountered at the last part of that cd:

Black Glory (on Enja with Jimmy Woode

Number Nineteen (like A.L.B.O.M. with excellent Dutch musicians and a little more exciting)

First Encounter (with Gary Peacock)

Blood and Guts (sounds like the title: heavy stuff and rhytmically very interesting)

Tokyo Bound (with two excellent Japanese musicians)

Free at Last (on ECM but not very ECMish, this is probably his best known)

👍👍

[clifford_thornton]

got all those LPs and can concur with Pim's recommendations!

[soulpope]

14 hours ago, Pim said:

He's on a whole lot of Prestige records as a sideman. He was kind of the house pianist. But his playing there is mostly restrained and in a different style than his post 1965 records with a few exceptions when he played with Dolphy. Mal moved more into free territory after 1968 though his music always remained pretty structured. 

If you're looking for more interesting solo outings than the one you listened to:

The Opening (Clifford mentioned this one already)

Update (on Soul Note)

Meditations: Live at Dug (calmer than the Opening but with a lot of emotional depth)

And if you're looking for more of the rhythmic trio music you encountered at the last part of that cd:

Black Glory (on Enja with Jimmy Woode

Number Nineteen (like A.L.B.O.M. with excellent Dutch musicians and a little more exciting)

First Encounter (with Gary Peacock)

Blood and Guts (sounds like the title: heavy stuff and rhytmically very interesting)

Tokyo Bound (with two excellent Japanese musicians)

Free at Last (on ECM but not very ECMish, this is probably his best known)

"Plays The Blues - Live At The Domicile" (Polydor/Enja) ....

[OliverM]

Nice review Pim!

Just picked up the record at the store (and had a chat with one of Fred's friends who is a big Mal Waldron fan) during the week-end and really looking forward to first listen! I have been listening to the Resonance double CD with Steve Lacy lately and it's a great release. 

[clifford_thornton]

Would be nice to just walk over to the Sam Records shop and pick up some titles!

[Niko]

1 hour ago, clifford_thornton said:

Would be nice to just walk over to the Sam Records shop and pick up some titles!

That shop has the most frustrating opening hours... I do get to Paris for work from time to time but so far it never overlapped with the days the shop is open... (That said, I can choose between at least two shops in walking distance that stock Sam Records which I guess is quite a luxury)

[OliverM]

Open only Fridays and Saturdays indeed, but as a non-profit label, it's already great to see all that they do happening. I've been living in this area (and used to be in the exact same street) for 15 years now so lucky to be able to stop by the shop quite often.

Coming back to the recent release, it's a real treat for Mal lovers (and I count as one)! 

Edited November 29 by OliverM