Malcolm Earl Waldron (August 16, 1926 – December 2, 2002) was an American j… Read Full Bio ↴Malcolm Earl Waldron (August 16, 1926 – December 2, 2002) was an American jazz and world music pianist and composer.
Born in New York City, his jazz work was chiefly in the hard bop, post-bop and free jazz genres. He is known for his distinctive chord voicings and adaptable style, which was originally inspired by the playing of Thelonious Monk.
After obtaining a B.A. in music from Queen's College, New York, he worked in New York City in the early 1950s with Ike Quebec, "Big" Nick Nicholas, and rhythm and blues groups. He worked frequently with Charles Mingus from 1954 to 1956 and was Billie Holiday's regular accompanist from 1957 until her death in 1959. He also supervised recording sessions for Prestige Records, for which he provided arrangements and compositions (including the jazz standard "Soul Eyes"). After Holiday's death he chiefly led his own groups.
Waldron had a unique playing style. He played chords in a lower bass part of the keyboard, and is comparable to Bud Powell in his dissonant voices. His solo style is in noted contrast to players like Red Garland.
He was frequently recorded, both as a leader and sideman, with, among others, John Coltrane, Eric Dolphy, Clifford Jordan, Booker Little, Steve Lacy, Jackie McLean and Archie Shepp.
Besides performing he composed for films (The Cool World, Three Bedrooms In Manhattan and Sweet Love Bitter), theatre, and ballet. In 1963 he had a major nervous breakdown, and had to re-learn his skills, apparently by listening to his own records. Waldron's playing style re-emerged more brooding, starker and percussive, combining bebop and avant-garde melodies, and at times weaving repetitive melodic motifs using just a few notes over a drone like accompaniment figure. After working on a film score in Europe he moved there permanently in 1965 initially living in Munich, Germany and in his last years he was based in Brussels, Belgium. On the principle that working at local venues reduced his fee, he avoided playing in the city in which he lived. He regularly returned to the United States for bookings.
Through the 1980s and 1990s he worked in various settings with Steve Lacy, notably in soprano-piano duets playing their own compositions as well as Monk's.
After some years of indifferent health, though continuing to perform, Waldron died in December 2002 in Brussels, Belgium.
Born in New York City, his jazz work was chiefly in the hard bop, post-bop and free jazz genres. He is known for his distinctive chord voicings and adaptable style, which was originally inspired by the playing of Thelonious Monk.
After obtaining a B.A. in music from Queen's College, New York, he worked in New York City in the early 1950s with Ike Quebec, "Big" Nick Nicholas, and rhythm and blues groups. He worked frequently with Charles Mingus from 1954 to 1956 and was Billie Holiday's regular accompanist from 1957 until her death in 1959. He also supervised recording sessions for Prestige Records, for which he provided arrangements and compositions (including the jazz standard "Soul Eyes"). After Holiday's death he chiefly led his own groups.
Waldron had a unique playing style. He played chords in a lower bass part of the keyboard, and is comparable to Bud Powell in his dissonant voices. His solo style is in noted contrast to players like Red Garland.
He was frequently recorded, both as a leader and sideman, with, among others, John Coltrane, Eric Dolphy, Clifford Jordan, Booker Little, Steve Lacy, Jackie McLean and Archie Shepp.
Besides performing he composed for films (The Cool World, Three Bedrooms In Manhattan and Sweet Love Bitter), theatre, and ballet. In 1963 he had a major nervous breakdown, and had to re-learn his skills, apparently by listening to his own records. Waldron's playing style re-emerged more brooding, starker and percussive, combining bebop and avant-garde melodies, and at times weaving repetitive melodic motifs using just a few notes over a drone like accompaniment figure. After working on a film score in Europe he moved there permanently in 1965 initially living in Munich, Germany and in his last years he was based in Brussels, Belgium. On the principle that working at local venues reduced his fee, he avoided playing in the city in which he lived. He regularly returned to the United States for bookings.
Through the 1980s and 1990s he worked in various settings with Steve Lacy, notably in soprano-piano duets playing their own compositions as well as Monk's.
After some years of indifferent health, though continuing to perform, Waldron died in December 2002 in Brussels, Belgium.
Warm Canto
Mal Waldron Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Mal Waldron:
All God's Chillung Got Rhythm Chillun', listen here to me This is my philosophy To see me…
All or Nothing at All All or nothing at all Half a love, never appealed to…
All the Way When somebody loves you It's no good unless he loves you,…
Autumn Leaves The falling leaves drift by the window The autumn leaves of…
Body & Soul My heart is sad and lonely For you I sigh, for…
Don't Blame Me Ever since the lucky night I found you I've hung around…
Finding My Love The very thought of you makes my heart sing Like an…
Get Happy Pack up your troubles and just get happy Ya better…
Here There And Everywhere To lead a better life I need my love to be…
Just Friends Just friends, lovers no more Just friends, but not like befo…
Left Alone Billie Holiday / Mal Waldron Where's the love that's made t…
Like Someone In Love Lately, I find myself out gazing at stars, Hearing guitars…
Nice Work if You Can Get It The man who only lives for making money Lives a life…
One By One Ask me how do I feel, Now that we're cosy and…
Polka Dots And Moonbeams A country dance was being held in a garden I felt…
Prelude To A Kiss If you hear A song in blue Like a flower crying For the…
The Christmas Song Chestnuts roasting on an open fire Jack Frost nipping at yo…
Where Are You? You are the sunshine of my life That's why I'll always…
You Embrace me, my sweet embraceable you! Embrace me, you irrepl…
You Are the Sunshine of My Life You are the sunshine of my life That's why I'll always…
You Don't Know What Love Is You don't know what love is 'Til you've learned the meaning…
You Stepped Out Of A Dream You stepped out of a dream You are too wonderful to…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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Daniel Peperkamp
The main song on my fathers funeral. Brings a smile and tear everytime I hear it.
Carlos Rojas
@Batı pñ pp
Carlos Rojas
@Batı p
Carlos Rojas
@Batı p
Carlos Rojas
@Batı pppñ
Batı
It's very touching to hear, there is something very human about this piece, something about our time here. Thanks for sharing this story...
DUPREEH il
Меня мутит на заднем сиденье такси
TIMUR WITH MONEY/CASH
ведь я властелин ка-лек, я властелин ка-лек
Russian Friend
@VADYARA PYOL душа искалечена и дуться тут нечего
VADYARA PYOL
@опер упал намоченный во мне не осталось уже человека