Mal Waldron Trio - Free at Last - 2 x Vinyl LPs

2 LP set

The Extended Anniversary Edition of Free At Last is issued as an audiophile vinyl double album.

Revisited, with additional takes, texts and photos, here is the very first ECM session, recorded in Ludwigsburg in November 1969, featuring the great American pianist Mal Waldron, whose resume included work with Coltrane, Mingus, Dolphy and Billie Holiday.

In his original liner notes, Mal wrote: “This album represents my meeting with free jazz. Free jazz for me does not mean complete anarchy… You will hear me playing rhythmically instead of soloing on chord changes.” As Jazz Journal noted, “tough, two-handed modal blues” predominates, and the music sounds as fresh now as the day it was recorded. Indeed, the tersely-grooving “Boo” and “Rock My Soul” could be club hits half a century later.

This is a hugely welcome re-issue, and would be a welcome addition to anyone's collection who has not previously heard this remarkable music. This was the fledgling ECM's very first recording, and how perceptive was Manfred Eicher to record Waldron at this juncture in his career and in a setting that was pretty new to the pianist, at one where he was preparing to meet some demons head on. […] This newly released 2LP set presents the original album on sides 1 and 2, with the 'extended edition' being previously unreleased takes on sides 3 and 4. Recorded fifty years ago the music stands the test of time extremely well. Uncanny how Eicher manages to get it spot on with his first release, and this music is testament to his unwavering belief and self discipline. Kicking off with 'Rat Now' by Mal Waldron, all the material was written by the pianist with the exception of 'Willow Weep For Me', the trio get things off to a most satisfying start, and over the course of ten minutes drive things along at a fair clip but always focused on the material. […] Released late on in the year, but pretty much essential listening. Highly recommended to those that have heard the originally released album, and a must have purchase for anyone new to this first and important in the ECM catalogue.
Nick Lea, Jazz Views