(1988) Tom Mega - Backyards of Pleasure *

 

Record date: April 6, 1988

There's not a lot of information to find about Tom Mega. Apparently he had been a bit of a naughty boy using lots of dope and being locked up in prison in the 1970's. He's a German singer who recorded several albums before he passed away in the year 2000. I was in doubt if I was going to review this record for this music is just really not my cup of tea. But hey: if one is about to review ALL of Mal's work post 1964, one cannot skip this one of course. I decided to stay as neutral as I could be, listening with open ears and an open mind. But this stuff is just going too far for me and Mal is nothing but a session musician anyway here.

What to expect? Expect heavy outdated '80's synths and keyboards and a ditto outdated sound. The music is rock oriented with a pretty obvious pop twist. Tom Mega is probably a bit influenced by Bowie and Tom Waits but doesn't reach those levels by far. He has a very thick and bit laughable German accent. None of the session musicians sound challenging or inspired anywhere and there space is very limited. So is Mal. I don't why he decided to collaborate for this recording. Was he openminded, in need of money or did he had contractual obligations with ITM? I don't know and just wish to forget this whole record. If you want to complete your Mal Waldron collection like I did: it's cheap and available. And so does it sound.

(1988) Tiziana Simona/Mal Waldron - Flakes *

 

With: Tiziana Simona (vocals), Steve Lacy (soprano saxophone), Enrico Rava (flugelhorn), Giulio Visibelli (alto flute)
Record date: August and September, 1988

There it is, another vocal album. This time with quite a line-up. Next to Waldron there’s Steve Lacy and Italian trumpeter Enrico Rava. And yes it was a challenge for me again to listen to it.

Tiziana Simona could sing a little bit, though her voice is not something very special. The starting Flakes and Little One are really turning me off instantly. She sings a little like Irene Aebi… Very different voice but that same theatrical voice which makes you almost think you’re at some cabaret. The thick accent almost makes me laugh, but not in a good way. She goes off key a few time also on this record. Rava is nowhere to be found, Lacy only plays a small bit. Visibeli takes a bigger role but doesn’t really do something special. Mal’s role is really mainly somewhere in the background with only a little bit of space to solo. Bo If Cinese, with Tiziana singing in her native tongue is a bit better. But Flowers for Albert is really making me nauseous again. I could hardly take it serious. Really big highlight of the whole album is Lacy’s intimate dueling with Mal on the beautiful ‘Left Alone’. Mal played that song plenty of times but as far as I know this is the only one with Lacy on soprano saxophone. Very unfortunate, but at 3:28 Simona starts singing and the magic is gone.

If you’re interested, you should definitely buy the original ITM issue. The ‘reissue’ on Phantom Sound and Vision is incomplete and shares space with another session with Kenny Wheeler and without Mal. Plus: it’s a CD-R. Big shame on them for selling it as a regular cd. For lovers of Lacy and Rava: their role on this album is very, very limited. Be warned.