Forgotten Treasure: Mal Waldron “Spanish Bitch” (1970)

Mal Waldron‘s sound just grows on you. He was a hard-bop pianist and made his mark as an exceptional side-man for vocalists including Billie Holiday and was once the house pianist for Prestige Records. His approach draws comparaisons and inspirations from the likes of Horace Silver, Art Tatum and Thelonious Monk.

The entire Mal Waldron catalogue can be filed under: mind blowing. The 1970 record titled “Spanish Bitch” is absolutely essential hearing.

Recorded for the ECM label but only released in Japan on Globe (info) it captures Waldron’s unique range of feeling in his angular piano lines. Each track features cuts with Isla Eckinger on bass and Fred Braceful on drums. Easily one of my favorite jazz records from the ECM catalogue.

Rahel