Mal Waldron
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Malcolm Earl Waldron (August 16, 1926 - December 2, 2002) was an American jazz and world music pianist and composer. His jazz work was chiefly in the hard bop and post-bop genres. He is known for his distinctive chord voicings and adaptable style, which was originally inspired by the playing of Thelonious Monk.
After obtaining a B.A. in music from Queen's College, New York, he worked in New York City in the early 1950s with Ike Quebec, "Big" Nick Nicholas, and rhythm and blues groups. He worked frequently with Charles Mingus from 1954 to 1956 and was Billie Holiday's regular accompanist from 1957 until her death in 1959. He also supervised recording sessions for Prestige Records, for which he provided arrangements and compositions (including the jazz standard "Soul Eyes"). After Holiday's death he chiefly led his own groups.
He was frequently recorded, both as a leader and sideman, with, among others, John Coltrane, Eric Dolphy, Clifford Jordan, Booker Little, Steve Lacy, and Jackie McLean.
Besides performing he composed film, theatre, and ballet scores. In 1963 he had a major nervous breakdown, and had to re-learn his skills, apparently by listening to his own records. After working on a film score in Europe he moved there permanently in 1965 initially living in Munich, Germany and in his last years he was based in Brussels, Belgium. On the principle that working at local venues reduced his fee, he avoided playing in the city in which he lived. He regularly returned to the United States for bookings.
After some years of indifferent health, though continuing to perform, Waldron passed away in December 2002 in Brussels, Belgium.
Selected albums
- Mal-1 (1956)
- McLean's Scene (1956) (Jackie McLean leader)
- Mal-2 (1957)
- The Quest, 1961 (Eric Dolphy leader)
- Live at Dreher Paris 1981
- What It Is (1981)
- Blues for Lady Day (1985)
- After Hours (1994)
- Two New (1995)