MAL WALDRON — Mal Waldron & Steve Lacy : Live At Dreher Paris 1981, The Peak Vol. 2 (review)

MAL WALDRON — Mal Waldron & Steve Lacy : Live At Dreher Paris 1981, The Peak Vol. 2 album cover Boxset / Compilation · 1996 · Avant-Garde Jazz Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
snobb
Second double-CD set, released right after the first one and containing live material,recorded during two last nights of soprano Steve Lacy and pianist Mal Waldron duo gigs at Paris' Dreher. First set is based more on first of three nights recordings and has been released under Steve Lacy name as leader (what is more a marketing trick since first set,released under Lacy's name, contains predominantly Waldron compositions, and second - predominantly Lacy's, in both cases completed with Monk standards)

Bigger part of presented music has been already released on earlier vinyl albums, but them all are real rarities so "The Peak" is with no doubt most accessible possibility to listen duo's legendary concert.

First set's CD contains four well-known Lacy's originals plus three Monk standards (incl. "Epistrophy" - the composition which made Lacy famous at early stage of his career). Second set opens with two Lacy compositions, switches to Waldron's "Hooray For Herby" and closes with three Monk standards.

The year is 1981, and Paris listeners are still enthusiastic listening to tuneful but quite quirky music. Both Lacy and Waldron are known by their love to clear melodies and minimalist touch in combination with deep bluesy roots. So no surprises here - Lacy's vibrato-less soprano sax dominates in most of the time quite often reminding his famous solo soprano concerts. Waldron piano can be heard mostly on the background (in big part because of untoward sound mix) with only better moments when Waldron soloing. Compositions are mostly well-known from other recordings, still here them sound inspired and perfectly played.

Generally often described as best duo release, this set is probably a bit overrated. Obvious Lacy domination (in sound mix and in music generally) too often makes "The Peak" just another Lacy's album, there are more interesting Lacy's solo soprano recordings and better releases as leader with band. Waldron is too often overshadowed here and sounds more as accompanist than a co-leader. Still great evidence coming from early 80s Paris jazz scene and one accessible way to listen two among most significant American expatriate jazz musicians who's career for decades has been related with Europe.
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