Record date: March 8 & 9, 1994
Another duo recording by Waldron and Lacy…. Will it ever stop? Yes, at least the recording would. This was their last duo that was recorded officially. So is it any good? Still worth having? There’s only one answer to that question: I am afraid it is. It consists mainly of compositions these guys never played before. Communique has 11 compositions, some by Waldron and some by Lacy. But also some by Monk, Mingus and by one of my all time favorite pianists: the great and underrated Elmo Hope. The Monk compositions played here were also never recorded by the two. This promises something good.
Just like all of their music together there’s a constant quality in their playing from the first minute to the last. There’s interplay, there’s dialogue. There’s emotion, there’s feeling. There’s humor, there’s unpredictability. There’s suprise, there’s comfortable predictability. There’s elegant beauty, there’s raw simplicity. Some mind-blowing complexity as well. This music just contains everything one looks for in music. And it just keeps amazing me how a simple soprano-piano duo can do all those things. Just listen to the sweetness in their playing on Mingus’ Smooch. The cold beauty of Lacy’s horn on top of those warm voicings from Mal’s piano. But next to the more sentimental pieces there’s also the more complex and unpredictable bop compositions like Elmo Hope’s ‘Roll On. Those versions really reflect their deep knowledge of musical theory and every single note sounds creative and original.
The Lacy compositions represent the more free and avant side of the duo. There's some pretty exciting dueling on Esteem. But also again a real treat: a solo effort by Lacy called 'Prayer'. It really has the intimacy of a personal prayer. Lacy solo is always a pleasure listening to. There's some weird feeling of despair or desolation in his playing. It's one of the most intimate experiences I could think of. It's followed by Waldron playing a beautiful solo piano piece called 'Fondest Recollections' which is dedicated to his family. It has this deep emotional feel in it that contrasts to that of Lacy and blends at the same time.
Like almost every duo record by these two superb musicians, this again is highly recommended. And like most of the Soul Note/Black Saint records: it’s pretty easy to get yourself a copy for just a small price. It’s also in the 11cd boxed set by CAMjazz but again: no liner notes. I really see that as a defect of that boxed set. I am pretty sure the original 1997 release does contain them as most of the Soul Notes do. Anyway, do not hesitate to add this one to your collection.
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