“The Quest” is an album by Mal Waldron, recorded on June 27, 1961, at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and originally released on New Jazz Records (NJLP 8269). The Jazz Workshop Vinyl reissue as a 180-gram audiophile LP (JW-093) revives this record with remastering that highlights Rudy Van Gelder’s deep sound. The lineup features Mal Waldron (piano), Eric Dolphy (alto saxophone, clarinet), Booker Ervin (tenor saxophone), Ron Carter (bass), Charlie Persip (drums), and Joe Benjamin (bass, on some tracks). The album includes Waldron’s originals like Status Seeking and Thirteen, emphasizing complex, near-avant-garde structures. The music balances hard bop and free jazz, with Waldron’s hypnotic playing and Dolphy’s expressive solos. The Jazz Workshop reissue is prized for its crystalline sound. “The Quest” is a masterpiece, showcasing Waldron and Dolphy’s visionary approach.
Mal Waldron (August 16, 1925 – December 2, 2002) was an American jazz pianist and composer, known for his brooding, introspective style. Born in New York City, he studied classical music but switched to jazz in the 1940s. Waldron gained fame as Billie Holiday’s accompanist from 1957 to 1959 and worked with Charles Mingus, Eric Dolphy, and Max Roach. His style blended hard bop with avant-garde elements, creating hypnotic, repetitive structures. After moving to Europe in the 1960s, he recorded extensively, often experimenting with form and harmony. Waldron left a legacy as one of jazz’s most original pianists, with compositions like Soul Eyesbecoming standards.
TRACKLIST
Side One:
1. Status Seeking 8:52
2. Duquility 4:09
3. Thirteen 4:42
4. We Diddit 4:23
Side Two:
1. Warm Canto* 5:37
2. Warp and Woof 5:36
3. Fire Waltz 7:58
Personnel:
Mal Waldron (piano), Eric Dolphy (alto sax, clarinet on *), Booker Ervin (tenor sax), Ron Carter (cello), Joe Benjamin (bass), Charles Persip (drums).
Recorded at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, on June 27, 1961
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.