Mood Malody – Mal Waldron
A mellow medium swing with second parts. Piano fills answer the horns.
- Recording: Jackie McLean - The New Tradition, vol.1: Presenting Jackie McLean
- Recorded on: October 21, 1955
- Label: Ad Lib (ADL 6601)
- Concert Key: C
- Style: Swing (medium)
- Alto Sax - Jackie McLean
- Trumpet - Donald Byrd
- Piano - Mal Waldron
- Bass - Doug Watkins
- Drums - Ronald Tucker
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Our audio excerpt starts right at the beginning of the recording, with the melody. Pianist/composer Mal Waldron plays some nice piano answers to the horn melody—all are notated in the C treble clef lead sheet. We're also providing second part editions so you can play the arrangement like the recording.
Jackie McLean's first recording in 1955 was with trumpeter Miles Davis. In 1951 his very first jazz recording was also with Miles, when Jackie was 20 years old. Jackie had started playing with Miles in 1949, and with tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins in 1948. This recording, "Presenting Jackie McLean," is the 24-year old's first album as a leader.
A month before, on September 9, he made his first recording with 22-year old trumpeter Donald Byrd, when they were both members of pianist George Wallington's Quintet, "Live! At The Cafe Bohemia." Bassist Doug Watkins (at 21) and pianist Mal Waldron (29) had both been on the jazz scene for about a year at the time of this recording, and it was their first recording with McLean. Mal Waldron was a very prolific composer with many recorded compositions over the years. As far as we've been able to research, Mood Malody was his first recorded composition.
A month before, on September 9, he made his first recording with 22-year old trumpeter Donald Byrd, when they were both members of pianist George Wallington's Quintet, "Live! At The Cafe Bohemia." Bassist Doug Watkins (at 21) and pianist Mal Waldron (29) had both been on the jazz scene for about a year at the time of this recording, and it was their first recording with McLean. Mal Waldron was a very prolific composer with many recorded compositions over the years. As far as we've been able to research, Mood Malody was his first recorded composition.
Mal Waldron
August 16, 1926 – December 2, 2002
Malcolm Earl Waldron was born in NYC. He studied classical piano starting at age eight. He switched to alto saxophone, but as he said, "when I first heard Charlie Parker I decided to go back to the piano." He was drafted into the Army for two years starting in 1943. He then earned a bachelor of arts degree in composition at Queens College in New York. He made his professional debut in 1950 as a member of Ike Quebec's combo at Café Society in New York City, and recorded with him in 1952. Read more...