Pim Posted January 3, 2021 Author Report Posted January 3, 2021 (edited) @soulpope definitely agree with you. Spanish Bitch is a good record but also a bit hyped by its cult status. Free At Last is definitely a stronger effort. @clifford_thornton yeah you’re right, I checked Discogs again and he played on many records. Don’t know how came to that first conclusion now... thanks for noticing, I changed my wording. @Niko that’s a pretty good idea! Edited January 3, 2021 by Pim Quote
David Ayers Posted January 3, 2021 Report Posted January 3, 2021 Nice blog! Should carry a financial health warning... Quote
Pim Posted January 10, 2021 Author Report Posted January 10, 2021 Another weekly update from me Were still pretty much stuck in 1971... The early '70's were really very productive years for Mal, recording around 25 leader dates in only 3 years time. And though not every album was equally good, there are some real masterpieces among them both known as more obscure. In this week's batch we've got a couple of those more known classics (Black Glory, Mal Waldron Plays the Blues), much in demand but hard to get classics (The Call), obscure masterpieces (Number Nineteen), his first vocal encounter since his breakdown as a co-leader (One For Lady) and one of his best solo outings: The Opening. And of course his first and last encounter with the great Gary Peacock who passed away only last year With a few exceptions, the quality of his work in this period was very high. He really was at one of his creative peaks. Hope you guys and do not hesitate to reply, discuss or correct my writings! https://snake-out.blogspot.com Quote
soulpope Posted January 10, 2021 Report Posted January 10, 2021 14 minutes ago, Pim said: Another weekly update from me Were still pretty much stuck in 1971... The early '70's were really very productive years for Mal, recording around 25 leader dates in only 3 years time. And though not every album was equally good, there are some real masterpieces among them both known as more obscure. In this week's batch we've got a couple of those more known classics (Black Glory, Mal Waldron Plays the Blues), much in demand but hard to get classics (The Call), obscure masterpieces (Number Nineteen), his first vocal encounter since his breakdown as a co-leader (One For Lady) and one of his best solo outings: The Opening. And of course his first and last encounter with the great Gary Peacock who passed away only last year With a few exceptions, the quality of his work in this period was very high. He really was at one of his creative peaks. Hope you guys and do not hesitate to reply, discuss or correct my writings! https://snake-out.blogspot.com QUOTE Black Glory + Mal Waldron Plays The Blues: Live at the Domicile The interaction between Mal and Jimmy Woode is mind blowing. The way Jimmy dances around the chords reminds me of how Scott LaFaro did that with Evans, though this music is completely different .... UNQUOTE Fully agree here .... Jimmy Woode is an important success factor here which unfortunately is pointed out rarely .... a long time ago these recordings (and the fact he was in the late 60`s/early 70`s resident in Vienna/Austria) made to search in depth for his euvre .... Quote
Rabshakeh Posted January 16, 2021 Report Posted January 16, 2021 (edited) Have you changed the format of the blog? It looks good. Edited January 16, 2021 by Rabshakeh Quote
Pim Posted January 16, 2021 Author Report Posted January 16, 2021 1 hour ago, Rabshakeh said: Have you changed the format of the blog? It looks good. I don’t think I did but thanks anyway Quote
Rabshakeh Posted January 16, 2021 Report Posted January 16, 2021 Just now, Pim said: I don’t think I did but thanks anyway Maybe I was just viewing it on a different device. Quote
Pim Posted January 17, 2021 Author Report Posted January 17, 2021 It's Sunday so time for a fresh update We're still there in the early '70's as Mal's output in those years was huge with multiple records for Victor, Enja and Freedom/Black Lion. A couple of solo albums this week: Signals on Freedom and Jazz A Confronto 19 on the Italian Horo label. Also his more known Billie Holiday tribute 'Blues for Lady Day' with which I still have a little trouble connecting with... All in all these were not his strongest solo outings in my humble opinion (especially the Horo). Part from those solo records there is very nice group recording with Sonny Grey, Alain Hatot, Gus Nemeth and the one and only Kenny Clarke. Nice advanced postbop with a surprisingly good Hatot and hard swinging Clarke. A very first reunion on record with the great Steve Lacy who I admire so much. 'Journey Without an End' was the reboot of a very fruitful relationship. It's also among the most 'avant' recordings by Mal. Great stuff. Closing this week with 'A Touch of the Blues' which is probably one of the lesser known Enja releases. It was never reissued on cd until last year on the Japanese Solid label. Great record, highly recommended. Might want to add it to your basket with your next CDJapan order https://snake-out.blogspot.com A (still incomplete of course) discography with all reviews could be found here: https://snake-out.blogspot.com/2020/12/all-reviews-in-chronological-order.html A (still incomplete of course) overview of all recordings by rating could be found here: https://snake-out.blogspot.com/2020/12/all-reviews-by-rating.html Thanks for reading guys! Quote
soulpope Posted January 17, 2021 Report Posted January 17, 2021 Agree on "A Touch Of The Blues" .... obviously as Jimmy Woode was there .... Quote
HutchFan Posted January 19, 2021 Report Posted January 19, 2021 On 1/17/2021 at 2:49 AM, soulpope said: Agree on "A Touch Of The Blues" .... obviously as Jimmy Woode was there .... Me too! Only got the disc a few months ago. If you dig Mal, I'd snag that Solid reissue before it's G-O-N-E. Quote
mikeweil Posted January 19, 2021 Report Posted January 19, 2021 On 17.1.2021 at 8:49 AM, soulpope said: Agree on "A Touch Of The Blues" .... obviously as Jimmy Woode was there .... Just looked and found I have the LP - I'm relieved. Allen Blairman, btw, still plays regularly in the Heidelberg area where he lives. I hope the local jazz club survives where he had a monthly gig. Quote
Pim Posted January 19, 2021 Author Report Posted January 19, 2021 1 hour ago, mikeweil said: Just looked and found I have the LP - I'm relieved. Allen Blairman, btw, still plays regularly in the Heidelberg area where he lives. I hope the local jazz club survives where he had a monthly gig. That’s nice to hear Mike! He is also great on ‘Hard Talk’ Quote
Pim Posted January 24, 2021 Author Report Posted January 24, 2021 Another weekly update then on this sunny Sunday (at least in Heemskerk it is). Were finally leaving the early seventies now. Quite a few highlights this week with: - Probably my favorite Mal Waldron of all time. My desert island pick and the love of my life (after my wife of course....) The Reminicent Suite with Terumasa Hino. I know quite a few of you know it. If you do not know it yet: I could really recommend it. And it's on Spotify these days. - Two great solo records. The highly underrated 'On Steinway' that get's bad ratings everywhere and I still do not know why. And his Live at Dug disc: Meditations which is probably his best solo work together with the Opening. Also highly recommended. - His first American record since Sweet Love, Bitter with Reggie Workman and Billy Higgins: Up Popped the Devil. Probably one of his better known works. - Two recordings for America that are both interesting as they are among Mal's most free and 'out' playing. - And finally one of the strangest efforts in Mal's discography: Candy Girl. A session with some of The Lafayette Afro-Rock Band. A record where Mal is not playing according to some sources but I am pretty sure he is one it. And I am not the only one Hope you'll enjoy reading them guys and thanks again. https://snake-out.blogspot.com And newly updated lists: https://snake-out.blogspot.com/2020/12/all-reviews-in-chronological-order.html https://snake-out.blogspot.com/2020/12/all-reviews-by-rating.html Quote
soulpope Posted January 24, 2021 Report Posted January 24, 2021 6 hours ago, Pim said: Another weekly update then on this sunny Sunday (at least in Heemskerk it is). Were finally leaving the early seventies now. Quite a few highlights this week with: - Probably my favorite Mal Waldron of all time. My desert island pick and the love of my life (after my wife of course....) The Reminicent Suite with Terumasa Hino. I know quite a few of you know it. If you do not know it yet: I could really recommend it. And it's on Spotify these days. - Two great solo records. The highly underrated 'On Steinway' that get's bad ratings everywhere and I still do not know why. And his Live at Dug disc: Meditations which is probably his best solo work together with the Opening. Also highly recommended. - His first American record since Sweet Love, Bitter with Reggie Workman and Billy Higgins: Up Popped the Devil. Probably one of his better known works. - Two recordings for America that are both interesting as they are among Mal's most free and 'out' playing. - And finally one of the strangest efforts in Mal's discography: Candy Girl. A session with some of The Lafayette Afro-Rock Band. A record where Mal is not playing according to some sources but I am pretty sure he is one it. And I am not the only one Hope you'll enjoy reading them guys and thanks again. https://snake-out.blogspot.com And newly updated lists: https://snake-out.blogspot.com/2020/12/all-reviews-in-chronological-order.html https://snake-out.blogspot.com/2020/12/all-reviews-by-rating.html Obviously "The Reminiscent Suite" deserves high praise .... for me "Up Popped The Devil" didn`t fulfil high expectations - particularly Reggie Workman + Billy Higgins doesn`t provide a match made in heaven (and furthermore one track is marred by a flute player) - but we have to settle for what we got .... Quote
Pim Posted January 24, 2021 Author Report Posted January 24, 2021 19 minutes ago, soulpope said: Obviously "The Reminiscent Suite" deserves high praise .... for me "Up Popped The Devil" didn`t fulfil high expectations - particularly Reggie Workman + Billy Higgins doesn`t provide a match made in heaven (and furthermore one track is marred by a flute player) - but we have to settle for what we got .... Well I do like 'Up Popped The Devil' but I can see what you mean. With a line up like that I also expected a little more. The combination of Workman with Blackwell worked out better. Quote
soulpope Posted January 24, 2021 Report Posted January 24, 2021 6 minutes ago, Pim said: Well I do like 'Up Popped The Devil' but I can see what you mean. With a line up like that I also expected a little more. The combination of Workman with Blackwell worked out better. Yes, definitely .... you will mention these recordings in the forthcoming chapters of your journey for sure .... Quote
Pim Posted January 24, 2021 Author Report Posted January 24, 2021 5 minutes ago, soulpope said: Yes, definitely .... you will mention these recordings in the forthcoming chapters of your journey for sure .... Oh yes! All of them Quote
mjazzg Posted January 24, 2021 Report Posted January 24, 2021 Streaming 'Reminiscent Suite' for the first time. I hear why you rate it so highly. Now how on earth do I get myself a copy of the LP? Quote
soulpope Posted January 24, 2021 Report Posted January 24, 2021 1 minute ago, mjazzg said: Streaming 'Reminiscent Suite' for the first time. I hear why you rate it so highly. Now how on earth do I get myself a copy of the LP? This one rarely turns up on the "secondary market" .... unfortunately .... Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted January 24, 2021 Report Posted January 24, 2021 I’d gladly pay expensive Japanese import prices for ‘Reminiscent Suite’ on CD (even $30) — but not $80-$200 for it on vinyl. I might go $40-$45 for vinyl, but I’ve never seen a copy available online for anything less than ~$85-$90 (probably close to $100 with shipping). Quote
Pim Posted January 24, 2021 Author Report Posted January 24, 2021 (edited) Yeah mine was something like 80$ including shipping.... Rarely pay so much money for vinyl or cd's but part from being a completist this was one session I just had to had.... I really wonder why it's not reissued. Some other Victor sessions by Mal were (although not a lot). It's a pretty high in demand record on the internet and the Japanese are pretty consistent with their reissue programs. Plus Mal was really like a rockstar in Japan in the '70's and '80's... Edited January 24, 2021 by Pim Quote
mjazzg Posted January 24, 2021 Report Posted January 24, 2021 32 minutes ago, Pim said: Yeah mine was something like 80$ including shipping.... It is very good...I might consider it at that price if it was the day after payday Quote
Pim Posted January 31, 2021 Author Report Posted January 31, 2021 As another week passes by were leaving another decade! Bye bye seventies, hello eighties. And the 1980's were to become another very fruitful time with classic albums. More on those later on the blog. This week's additions: - Some of his very best records ever. Mostly on Enja. They are also among his better known works. 'One-Upmanship', 'Moods' and 'Hard Talk'. It's hard to decide which one is best. With band members like Steve Lacy, Manfred Schoof, Jimmy Woode and Terumasa Hino you just can't go wrong. Mal made some very, very good records in these years. It's also the introduction or revisiting of some of his classic compositions like Soul Eyes, Hurray for Herbie, Snake Out, Sieg Haile, A Case of Plus 4's and Seagulls of Kristiansund. All highly recommendable. - One of the biggest surprises for me: a legit Japanese CD-R with a registration of Mal's 1977 'Jazz at Middelheim' concert. 78 minutes of dazzling, hypnotizing freeform playing with his classic group including Steve Lacy. Though the sound quality could be better, this is one of my favorite records by Mal. It's almost impossible to find, but if you do ever see one grab it as soon as you can. - A pretty straightforward first reunion with old pal Jackie McLean. 'Like Old Times' is an enjoyable encounter but nothing that knocks you off your feet. - Two less interesting recordings. The Enja solo encounter 'Mingus Lives' which is ok but definitely one of his lesser solo albums. And an appereance as a co-leader with Roy Burrowes band where Mal sounds a bit out of place. Enjoy reading and have a great Sunday! Thanks guys. https://snake-out.blogspot.com https://snake-out.blogspot.com/2020/12/all-reviews-by-rating.html https://snake-out.blogspot.com/2020/12/all-reviews-in-chronological-order.html Quote
Niko Posted January 31, 2021 Report Posted January 31, 2021 Couldn't wait and read it already an hour ago - always looking forward to new posts... (as a very minor comment: Klaus Weiss was a drummer... and while I'm at it, there was one place where I disagreed a few weeks back: Kosuke Mine is not "at the top of his abilities" on that 4321 record. He's not great on that one but he's really good elsewhere, eg on that Joe Henderson and Kikuchi Hino record, link ) Quote
Pim Posted January 31, 2021 Author Report Posted January 31, 2021 Thanks Niko for noticing. Don’t know why I stated Klaus Weiss is a saxophone player... I’ve got his two leader dates with Mal and I am aware he is the drummer. I’m probably getting old. About Kosuke: I don’t anything else by him. My writing was just a description of my feelings bout his playing on this very record of course. Thanks for commenting Quote
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