CiTR

Tonight's Jazz Feature is by a fine pianist/composer who literally played with everyone of importance from Charles Mingus, Max Roach, John Coltrane to Billie Holiday and many more. Mal was the "house pianist" for Prestige Records in the mid and late 50's and recorded prolifically as a sideman and leader. Tonight's album is arguably his finest as a leader up to the time yet it is unfairly overlooked. It was done on March 20, 1958 at RVG Studios. His trio has Addison Farmer on bass and Albert "Tootie" Heath on drums and it's a very cohesive date. The album was called "Impressions" but that's just a title and nothing to do with the famous Coltrane tune. Mal's Overseas Suite in 3 movements kicks of the album then some solid standards like "You Stepped Out of a Dream" and a ballad "All The Way" Mal's wife of the time wrote a fine waltz called All About Us" and the wrap up tune is Rogers and Hart's "With a Song in My Heart". As an extra I've added a solo piano composition by Mal called "Nervous" to end the Feature. It's like a mini portrait of New York and a fun listen. Tonight Mal Waldron!