(1995) Maturity 3: Dual ****

 

With: Mal Waldron (piano), Takeo Moriyama (drums)
Record date: August 20, 1995

The same day that they recorded 'Bit', they also made this record. 4 days after his birthday Mal teamed up with Japanese drummer Takeo Moriyama and played two long sessions in Studio F with a live audience present. The 'Bit' record was already rated highly by me, and this third part of the Maturity series is also very interesting.

Just like the 'Bit' record this was recorded as a suite. But here the tracks are partitioned in 7 parts. Yet every composition flows over in another one. All the music was improvised on the spot and that leads to some very exciting and creative music. Both Mal as Takeo play on a high level of energy here and the music is pretty intense here and there. Though Mal became a little milder in sound in the 1990's this is a pretty good example of his capabilitly to explore more free territories. His attack is highly percussive and he uses big clusters of notes here and there. But the music still sounds set in structures as from the improvisations, there are still themes in the music that Mal regularly visits. And part from the high energy parts there are also some beautiful calmer bits in the music that are of equal interest.

Just like the other Dan release the music here is all about the interaction between drummer and pianist. And Mal and Takeo really feel each other and are able to communicate in an almost telepathic way. Also Moriyama is a very pleasant drummer to listen to as he works his ass of but still in no way tries to overrule Mal. He's a very balanced player, never too loud but definitely not in de background only. He just adds the right things to Mal's lead. This was an excellent duo.

This record was released in 1996 for the first time by Dan or Tokuma Japan. It was made part of the Maturity series in 2003. I can't speak for the 1996 release but the Maturity is beautiful. It's warm and balanced in sound and the photographs in the booklet are truly beautiful. Of all the Maturity releases this one seems to be avaible a little better. Highly recommended music and perhaps a good introduction to the more rare 'Bit' which is even better.

(1995) Takeo Moriyama/Mal Waldron - Bit ****1/2

 

With: Mal Waldron (piano), Takeo Moriyama (drums)
Record date: August 20, 1995

During the birthday celebration tour, Mal recorded two albums with the great Japanese drummer Takeo Moriyama. Perhaps not very well known in the West, Moriyama is really one of the best drummers around in Japan and recorded plenty of records there. Moriyama is a drummer that is able to play contemporary jazz but also the more free kind of stuff like and played on quite a few occasions with Yosuke Yamashita. That means he know’s how to accompany a piano player.

This really is one enjoyable record. The long ‘LAUD suite’ takes almost 50 minutes but isn’t boring for a second. The telepathical interplay between the two and huge variety in style, tempo and feeling makes this a fascinating journey where both musicians are able to give their best. A piano drums combination might sound unconventional but it doesn’t sound so. That is quite special as Mal really mostly builds lots of his energy on a bass player. But you don’t really miss a bass player here. The music goes everywhere from more free oriented playing to beautiful subdued melodies. There are some nice remarks of Waldron compositions here and there: something reminding of the Git-Go, a preview of ‘In the Land of Clusters’ (which appeared later on ‘One More Time’) and a clear version of ‘Snake Out’.

Mal has played with so many musicians in so many groups. And sometimes his own playing becomes just a very small part of the music itself and his solo space is limited. On this record there’s plenty of space for him to show off what he was still capable off. With only a drummer to duel with, Mal really gets in good shape here. He’s playing with both melodic ideas as rhythmic ideas, carefully building them out to something funky, catchy and swinging. The repetitiveness in his playing gives the music an almost hypnotizing effect. Yet not one phrase is exactly the same. And Moriyama understands it all so well. He is obviously doing a lot of things yet he still sounds very tender. He’s really more about rhythm than power.

This is one very exciting duet and it is very unfortunate it’s so hard to track down. Copies at Discogs go from around 50 euros. That is a lot money. But believe me if I tell you it’s money well spent. Then there’s also the great sound quality. These 3361* Black records really sound very, very good. Great mix with Moriyama in the foreground somewhat which gives the music some extra energy. Liners are in Japanese of course and mine smell of cigarettes. But the music is very good. Highly recommended.