(1981) Mal Waldron/Steve Lacy - Live at Dreher Paris 1981 *****

 

With: Steve Lacy (soprano saxophone), Mal Waldron (piano)

Record date: August 10-15, 1981

So there it is: the first Lacy/Waldron duet that was put on record and released officialy. Of course both of the guys had worked together a lot. Their first recordings were in the 1950's when Mal was still the unoffical house pianist for the Prestige label. He played on Lacy's album 'Reflections' for the New Jazz label. Then in the '70's there were their records for the Victor, America and Enja labels. And they probably had experimented as a duo a few times but it was in the jazz club 'Le Dreher' that it was first put on record. Now the disocgraphy of these records is a bit confusing. Initially half of the songs were brought out on two LP's: Herbe de L'Oubli and Snake-Out. They were combined a year later on a double LP. Another double LP was released that year named 'Lets Call This' with the rest of the music. That was in 1985. The first cd release was again half of the concert in 1995 called 'The Peak' which contained the music from the double L'Oubli and Snake-Out LP. Now the one you really want to have is the 4cd set from 2003 that contains all of the music, released one year after Waldron died in Brussels.

This epic 4 cd was their first duo on record and also a bit of their magnum opus. It contains almost 5 hours of intense, relaxing, dark, light, humorous, free, structured music. It's filled with compositions by Waldron and Lacy but also some classic compositions by Thelonious Monk. Both Monk aficionado's this was a very logical thing to do and the chemistry is immense. Lacy had already recorded tons of Monk compositions but Waldron not so much. The Lacy compositions represent the more free side by both men, really exploring territitories that are probably outside the boundaries of jazz. Lacy is exploring every single side of his instrument: honking, squeeling, overblowing, cheerping. It sometimes sounds like a hobo, sometimes like a trumpet. It's more of an experiment in sound than with any chords or song structures. The Mal compositions are a bit more structured and they chose some stone cold classics. More up temp one's like 'Snake Out' and 'Hurray for Herbie' and of course the beautiful 'Seagulls of Kristiansund'. On 'Snake Out' you really got that brooding hunted feeling, where it feels like Mal is speeding up constantly while he is not. And Lacy playing loop after loop, using circular breathing techniques, almost becoming hypnotic at times. And listen to Mal's solo on his own lesser known 'Deep Endeavors' starting with a minimalistic approach in the lowest registers of the piano. 

And then there's the Monk tunes. There is nobody I rather hear playing Monk tunes as these two and fortunately they recorded a lot of them. Their compexity is not a problem for these two experienced players. It gives them space to give them another deeper meaning. Listen to their version of 'Round Midnight.... It's just heartbreaking, tearjerking beautiful. It's like Mal is listening to every step Lacy wants to take and vice versa. This is interaction on a whole new level. On the more uptempo pieces like Epistrophy they strike with the energy they are provided. With no rhythm section present, this music is still really in your face demanding you to listen. It's like there still is a drummer present. 

As I stated before, the 4 cd set is really the one you want to have and copies still go for around 50 euros on the web. Not unreasonable for so much music. Intense and demanding as this music is I cannot recommend listening the whole concert for 5 hours without a single break. But the four cd set makes it easy to partition the listening. And though there are some duplicates most of the compositions are unique. And yeah you really want to hear two interpretations of Snake Out or 'Round Midnight. Also: this is not their most accesible work. Especially the Lacy compositions are for the more openminded listener. They have made more accessible work together. But these sessions really contain one highlight after another. Waldron and Lacy collaborating really is magic. Only downside is Hatology's packaging which I have never liked. Of course that is partly a matter of taste but there is also a more practical reason. Because the cd's go unprotected into the cardboard I have damaged two of my Cecil Taylor disc's on this label with a scratch that makes it unplayable. Stacking them in jewel cases is of course a solution but does not look nice in my cd cabinet....