MAL WALDRON — Tokyo Reverie (review)

MAL WALDRON — Tokyo Reverie album cover Album · 1970 · Post Bop Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
snobb
In early 1970 American pianist,already residing in Europe for some time,on the basis of his released album has been invited to visit Japan (by local Swing Journal company). On his first ever Japanese tour Mal spent two days (February 7 & 12) in studio in Tokyo where recorded some material.

Four songs,recorded by trio with domestic double bassist and drummer were soon after released as "Tokyo Bound" album. Eight compositions,recorded solo, has been released later same year as "Tokyo Reverie". Both albums didn't attract lot of attention but opened for Mal Japanese scene. He returned for next Japanese tour already next year and very soon became well known and popular pianist on Japanese mainstream scene.

"Tokyo Bound" has been reissued few times including CD edition (in 1990), "Tokyo Reverie"'s first issue became its last. No surprise that even many Waldron fans don't know it exists.

Speaking about music, "Tokyo Reverie" contains eight Waldron originals, mostly all up-tempo rhythmic post-bop pieces, quite unmemorable. The only exception is album's closer "Blood And Guts" which stays in Mal's repertoire for decades ahead.

On "...Reverie" Waldron plays in his almost in full adopted technique of repetitive beats and rhythm domination against virtuosity,complexity and soloing. This his formula as rule perfectly works when used with trio or bigger combo, but for piano solo album (especially on not all that strong material)its limitations are obvious.No surprise this album has bigger value for completionists than for music lovers. One still can find original Japanese vinyl in European auctions at as much price as 30 euro.

Interesting evidence of Waldron's early career in Japan,no any reasons to pay fortune though.
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