Record date: April 28 & 30, 1987
The recording year 1987 started in Europe with a trio session for Soul Note. It’s an album with 5 pretty straight ahead originals. Both bassist Leonard Jones as drummer Sangoma Everett are fairly unknown with Jones coming from the freejazz scene, playing with the great Muhal Richard Abrams and other AACM members. Sangoma Everett is a drummer that integrates lots of African and Eastern elements in his drumming. Mal was to appear later on an album by him.
Like I said before: this is a very straight ahead session. Though it consists of Waldron originals, these are mostly his more accessible ones. And where musicians like Reggie Workman were capable of searching every bit of space and freedom in even the most structured standards, Jones and Everett really just play their part. There’s not a lot of solo space for them either. Only exception is ‘The Git Go’ which is one of the more exciting songs on the album. Mal is in excellent form and the closing ‘Because of You I Live Again’ is incredibly beautiful with Mal’s gentle touch and subtle playing. One could actually hear his love for Colline trough his notes.
You cannot call this a bad record with bad music. It really is not. But Mal has definitely made much more exciting trio albums and played with more interesting musicians. Nice but not essential. It’s in the 11cd Soul Note box but without any liners (weird choice).
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