(1992) Charlie Mariano/Mal Waldron - New Horizon (Dedicated To A Changing Europe) ****

 

With: Charlie Mariano (alto saxohpone), Mal Waldron (piano), Paulo Carduso (bass), John Betsch (drums)
Record date: August 24, 25 and 26, 1992

In the summer of 1992 it was time for the second record date with Mariano and Waldron. Just like Mal, Charlie wasn’t retiring from the scene at all. He was still alive and very active in those years releasing his own work and appearing with all kinds of musicians (including a fascinating album with Rabih Abou-Khalil). Like Mal Waldron, Charlie Mariano was open to all kinds of styles. He was also living in Germany like Mal (though the latter had just moved to Belgium) and played with the same Krautrock and psychedelic rock groups in that country. In 1992 the New Europe was really getting shape with fresh democracies and newly formed states. But a part of that New Europe was still burning. Just like ‘Autumn Dreams’ it’s this revolutionary period that is the main theme trough the music.

Also like that first album it’s a mix of compositions by Waldron, Mariano and some jazz standards. The three jazz standards are played in a very decent way with some great soloing by both guys that are really in the spotlight. That means the rest of the group is just playing their part in the background mostly. But the overall playing is just very good. This was one very solid group. Mariano’s original has a bluesy and very sweet melody that keeps coming back like a loop. His soloing is again excellent but a little subdued. He loses some of that on Mal’s ‘Monkish Witticism’ that has this almost uneasy break that suddenly takes a move into some hard swinging territory. It’s a pretty cool composition with lots of unexpected turns and twists just like Monk’s own compositions had. There’s also another relatively short version of Mal’s Seagull’s composition. It’s treated with much elegance and passion by Mariano’s warm alto playing. Another wonderful execution of this Mal classic. 

The most interesting part of the album is the almost 20 minutes long suite. Both Mariano and Waldron dare to leave the more usual conventions of jazz and start of dueling together without the rest of the band. It’s a very intimate kind of dueling with both musicians constantly responding to each other. In the ‘Discussions’ part it’s up to Carduso to interact with Mal. He does in a very thoughtful way, making it actually sound like he’s discussing stuff with Mal. Then up comes the anger in the ‘Confrontation’ part which is a nice opportunity for John Betsch to show off his drumming skills (that are very, very good). Mal fires off hard and dark clusters in this haunting duet with the drummer. Concluding the album is the whole quartet with some very intimate interplay between the four of them. Mariano’s passionate saxophone playing runs over beautiful lines that are provided by Mal and Carduso. A great conclusion of a pretty good record.

Where ‘Autumn Dreams’ was a very decent but pretty standard outing, I found this one to be a little more exciting. There’s a little bit more tension in the overall playing and both of the musicians are a little more adventurous. But most of all this is some very comfortable jazz to listen to. Quality music by four quality musicians.

This record was released only once on Alfa Jazz Japan. No reissues on labels like Timeless or Evidence. That makes it a little harder to find yourself a copy and if you do find one it’s probably not cheap for a CD. If you’re a fan of Mariano or the more gentle side of Mal this record will probably not disappoint you.