MAL WALDRON — Free At Last

Jazz music community with discographies, reviews and forums

MAL WALDRON - Free At Last cover
3.78 | 8 ratings | 1 review
Buy this album from MMA partners

Album · 1970

Filed under Post Bop
By MAL WALDRON

Tracklist

A1 Rat Now 10:15
A2 Balladina 5:01
A3 1-3-234 4:01
B1 Rock My Soul 11:23
B2 Willow Weep For Me 7:31
B3 Boo 3:25

Total Time 41:03

Line-up/Musicians

- Mal Waldron / piano
- Clarence Becton / drums
- Isla Eckinger / bass

About this release

ECM 1001(Germany)

Recorded on November 24, 1969 at the Tonstudio Bauer, Ludwigsburg

Thanks to Kazuhiro for the addition and snobb, js for the updates



Buy MAL WALDRON - FREE AT LAST music

MAL WALDRON FREE AT LAST reviews

Specialists/collaborators reviews

snobb
Pianist Mal Waldron made his name as Billie Holiday accompanist till her last days, his solo albums in late 50s were all well-made but not virtuosic hard bop. He played with Charles Mingus,recorded "The Quest" with Eric Dolphy - Mal's most significant work of that period and nearly died from a heroin overdose. After long months of rehabilitation in hospital Mal relocated to Europe, where during followed years made strong reputation as one of most respectable American jazz expatriate.

Being always hard-bop rooted, during late 60s-early 70s he evidenced free-jazz influences, "Free At Last" titled album is one of such examples. Being historically more significant as very first release of just founded German ECM label (still without traces of what later will be widely known as "ECM sound"), this album contains Waldron transitional music recorded with acoustic trio (Swiss drummer Isla Eckinger plus another American Clarence Becton on drums).

Being quite free (at least by Maldron standard) this album contains five Mal originals plus ballad "Willow Weep For Me". Mostly up-tempo groovy music includes some longish bassist soloing,but Waldron piano even if a bit freer than usual demonstrates early stage of what later will become his signature style - uncomplicated beat in combination with drone and tuneful non-virtuosic not-too-fast playing.

Album's compositions are still far not so memorable as Waldron later works and rhythm section is all but "free at last" (not Waldron himself is to be honest as well). Mostly interesting as Mal's early step on what very soon will become his visit card, this album is still quite pleasant and far not boring. For ECM collectors original version is a Holy Grail, fortunately reissued on CD by ECM in early 90s(and once again in Japan - in 2014).

Members reviews

No MAL WALDRON FREE AT LAST reviews posted by members yet.

Ratings only

  • Steve Wyzard
  • karolcia
  • lilzetha
  • OJC86
  • liontime
  • Fant0mas
  • Sean Trane

Write/edit review

You must be logged in to write or edit review

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

More Is Fusion
CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE
Buy this album from MMA partners
Mozart Paradox Third Stream
THOMAS ENHCO
Buy this album from MMA partners
Jazzisdead Live Eclectic Fusion
RUINSZU
Buy this album from MMA partners
Avant Gonz Avant-Garde Jazz
JERRY BERGONZI
Buy this album from MMA partners
Julien Tassin, Heikki Ruokangas : Behind the Mask Jazz Related Improv/Composition
HEIKKI RUOKANGAS
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

Mundoagua II Mundoagua
ARTURO O'FARRILL
js· 17 hours ago
Brass Happy (Live)
DENNIS KYNE
js· 20 hours ago
GoGo Penguin - Fallowfield Loops
GOGO PENGUIN
snobb· 21 hours ago
Somewhere That's Green
DEB BOWMAN
js· 2 days ago
If I Try
TONY GREY
js· 2 days ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us