Back catalogue: All genres

Review: The newly unearthed Mal Waldron Trio 1970 live recording, officially released with the permission of the Waldron Estate and INA, captures an important moment in the pianist's career resurgence. Recorded at Paris' Palais d'Orsay Hotel during the International Sound Festival and aired on the "Jazz Vivant" radio show, this performance highlights Waldron's revitalised artistry after years of personal struggle. Backed by Christian Vander on drums and Jean-Francois Catoire on bass, the trio delivers a riveting set that exemplifies their deep cohesion. The set opens with 'Rat Now', showcasing Waldron's signature style, with his left hand's rhythmic foundation contrasting against his right hand's sharp, controlled improvisations. Vander's dynamic drumming adds a free-flowing energy to the piece, evoking Monk's influence on Waldron. 'Champs Elysees' follows, blending bluesy melodies with intricate interplay from the trio, while 'Rock My Soul' races forward with vibrant exchanges, particularly between Waldron's forceful left hand and Vander's energetic percussion. The set closes with 'Mount Fujiyama', a serene yet deeply rooted composition inspired by Waldron's visit to Japan. This rare recording is a testament to Waldron's rebirth as an artist and the trio's extraordinary synergy.

Review: The J Jazz Masterclass Series from BBE Music has already served up some real treasure and now as it lands on its 19th release, it serves up some more. This one, Mal Waldron's Reminicent Suite, is a sizeable collab between two giants of jazz, In coming together they cooked up a sublime album alongside a band made up of the very best Japanese jazz musicians of their time. American pianist Mal Waldron and Japanese trumpeter Terumasa Hino released this album in 1973 on the Victor label and is one of several albums of the time that were Japan-only releases. Now it gets a vinyl pressing in the West for the first time ever so do not sleep.

Review: The search for The Quest is finally over. This rare album, a true first pressing with the Abbey ring and deep grooves, is now on the shelf and sounding fantastic. It ranks among the top jazz albums, alongside Basra and Far Cry. The Quest is a stunning showcase of soul, musicianship, and composition, with all tunes penned by Mal Waldron, who is a master of sparse, dark, delicate beauty on the piano. Featuring Eric Dolphy on alto and clarinet, Booker Ervin on tenor, Ron Carter on cello, Joe Benjamin on double bass, and Charlie Persip on drums, the ensemble is top-notch. Standout tracks include the mellow and reflective 'Warm Canto' and the energetic 'Status Seeking,' Every tune is unique, making it an album worth revisiting. This reissue rightly restores leadership to Waldron, and with the support of Benjamin and Persip, the complex music, bridging hard bop and avant-garde, is beautifully interpreted. Highly recommended.