Snake Out
A blog dedicated to the music of Mal Waldron
Thursday, November 17, 2022
(1978) Searching in Grenoble : The 1978 Solo Piano Concert ****1/2
Friday, May 14, 2021
Taking a small break
Thursday, May 13, 2021
(1994) Chuck Henderson - Black Issues ***
With: Chuck Henderson (soprano saxophone), Mal Waldron (piano on #5,#6,#7), Raoul Walton (bass), Fred Braceful (drums)
Record date: April, 1994
Now when I first heard the name Chuck Henderson, I thought to myself: I've got to know that guy. Is he some session musician I have totally overlooked in my music collection. He's got a real jazzy name, that's for sure. But he is a pretty obscure figure only recording one sessions as a leader (this one) and appearing on a dozen other albums by musicians that were active on the German jazz scene (including Embryo). For this album he collaborates with other artists from that scene: the great Fred Braceful on drums, who also played on Mal's 'Spanish Bitch' and 'The Call' albums and bassist Raoul Walton who really has played all kinds of music. Mal was already living in Brussels at the time but was of course a well known jazz resident in Munich. He appears only on a few tracks.
So what does this group sound like and what to expect: it's mostly accessible and pretty funky modal jazz. Henderson isn't the most advanced or challenging player but he does a pretty fine job. His composition 'Realising The Difference' has this nice funky feeling with a grooving Raoul Walton on bass. Also the remake of Duke's 'Caravan' is a creative one and makes one laugh with it's repeating bass loop. Mal makes his first appearance on 'Protect the Innocent Pt.2'. The repetitiveness of the music works out pretty well for him and he plays a nice solo part. He mostly just does his thing. The title track is the best one on the disc. It has a more jazzy feeling and Mal's solo is excellent with some good old fashioned backing by Braceful's pushing drums. Henderson's soprano skills sound a little limited here. You want him to 'go out' and explore but he stays mostly on common grounds. On 'Boo Blue' Henderson takes a bluesy duet with Mal. The closing composition is a solo statement by Henderson. It's a nice and thoughtful way to close this record off.
All in all this is an enjoyable effort and an interesting collaboration. But the music isn't very special and fails to make a real lasting impression. Mal's role is limited to a few appearances and a small solo here and there. The cd is not the most easy one to obtain. It's good sound wise, contains some nice photographs of the group plus some thank you words by Henderson. There's also a Japanese inlay in mine which seams to contain some more information. Nice to have but in no way essential.
(1993) Mina Aoe - The Shadow of Love **
With: Mina Aoe (vocals), Freddy Cole (vocals, piano), Grover Washington Jr. (soprano saxophone), Eddie Henderson (trumpet), Jim Powell (trombone), Ted Nash (tenor saxophone), Jerry Byrd (guitar), Mal Waldron (piano), George Mraz (bass), Billy Hart (drums), Steve Berrios (percussion)
Record date: March 3-7, 1993
I'll never get used to this kind of thing. Japanese singer Mina Aoe teams up with some of the top American jazz musicians of those days. The result is an overly sweet, old fashioned out of style and very dull record. Mina Aoe must have been quite the singer in her homeland. She has recorded lots of music back in the 1960's. She could sing okay but has this huge Japanese accent. The music played here is so not my cup of tea. In my opinion we have past this kind of thing in the 1940's. And even then: it was performed a zillion times better back in those days. Love some of the standards but not the way they are performed here.
1 star for the music. 1 more for the excellent musicians playing here and Freddy Cole's voice. Try it yourself, maybe you will like it. I don't and mostly bought it to complete the collection. I would definitely not spend the money some Discogs sellers dare to ask for it.
Tuesday, May 11, 2021
(1989) Jim Pepper - Flying Eagle Live at New Morning, Paris ***
(1989) Embryo - Turn Peace ***
Record date: September 1989
From the moment they first met in the 1960's until Mal's death: Mal and Christian Burchard played together trough all those years on so many occasions. Though there are not a lot of official records, the number of bootlegs circulating on the internet is countless and so is video material. They mostly played together in the band 'Embryo' of which Burchard was a member for most of his life. Mal plays only on 3 tracks on this last record with the German band: on track 6, 10 and 11. The whole album is a bit of a mixed bag with lots of musical styles, personnel changes and separate recording sessions. That is probably what this record misses most: a clear direction or feeling or unity in a musical sense.
The non-Waldron tracks are a mix of Eastern, Indian, Middle Eastern and African sounds. Lot's of native musicians are participating in these tracks giving the music a fascinating international kind of feeling. It's world music but not in the cheap kind of way: the music is truly used to enrich Embryo's own music. They really left most of the psychedelic and krautrock of their '70's behind here. The music is experimental but mostly in the use of Eastern scales and instruments. It's interesting to hear but none of the compositions manages to really make a lasting impression. The variety keeps the music thrilling but makes it sound also a little random.
The Waldron tracks are a little more jazz oriented. 'Abdul' has definitely Mal's trademarks on it but there's little space for him to stretch out. Just like most of the music it's all a little forgettable. 'Barks' could have been better but was cut off and begins in the middle of the song. Unfortunate and a bit of a weird choice. The best and most interesting composition of the album is the last one: 'Lonely Nights' is definitely written by Mal. It combines the most interesting muscians of Embryo including Roman Bunka, Dieter Serfas, Christian Burchard and Mal's own bassist: Paulo Carduso. It's the most jazzy song of the album and contains some excellent soloing by a sensitive Mal Waldron and smooth playing Bunka. Carduso forms the base he was to become in Mal's trio. Great bassist with excellent timing and feel for soloing.
All in all this music is far from bad. It's actually pretty good but it's mainly the the lack of connection trough all the songs which makes the whole album a kind of a weird listening experience. The tracks with Mal are ok but nothing special. Embryo has made more interesting albums, and so did Mal himself. The music is still pretty easy to obtain.
Monday, May 10, 2021
(1988) Tom Mega - Backyards of Pleasure *
There's not a lot of information to find about Tom Mega. Apparently he had been a bit of a naughty boy using lots of dope and being locked up in prison in the 1970's. He's a German singer who recorded several albums before he passed away in the year 2000. I was in doubt if I was going to review this record for this music is just really not my cup of tea. But hey: if one is about to review ALL of Mal's work post 1964, one cannot skip this one of course. I decided to stay as neutral as I could be, listening with open ears and an open mind. But this stuff is just going too far for me and Mal is nothing but a session musician anyway here.
What to expect? Expect heavy outdated '80's synths and keyboards and a ditto outdated sound. The music is rock oriented with a pretty obvious pop twist. Tom Mega is probably a bit influenced by Bowie and Tom Waits but doesn't reach those levels by far. He has a very thick and bit laughable German accent. None of the session musicians sound challenging or inspired anywhere and there space is very limited. So is Mal. I don't why he decided to collaborate for this recording. Was he openminded, in need of money or did he had contractual obligations with ITM? I don't know and just wish to forget this whole record. If you want to complete your Mal Waldron collection like I did: it's cheap and available. And so does it sound.
Saturday, May 8, 2021
(1987) Marty Cook Group - Red, White, Black & Blue ***