Balladeer

"Permanent" - or as it is titled in Europe "Play Mode" - is surely a soulful classic. Randy´s rendition of "Wild is the Wind" is maybe the definitive version of this haunting ballad. But the record´s real stunner is the chilling midtempo groove of "When I get over you" - that always knocks me out. In my humble opinion this is one of the most ravishing beautiful vocal albums - and stays so - "permanent" (ly).

Mulatu Astatke - New York - Addis - London: The Story of Ethio Jazz 1965-1975 (Strut)

Steve Lacy & Mal Waldron – Communiqué (Soul Note)

Federico Bonifazi feat. Eric Alexander, John Webber, Jimmy Cobb - You´ll See (Steeplechase LookOut)

Nicolas Simion - Magic Drops (7 Dreams Records)

So sad! What a stellar artist. Not only a free spirit and expressive Reedist but also really important for the advance of European jazz. Simion incorporated the folk of his homeland Romania, especially Transylvania, into his music - up to the instruments: Listen to the cymbalon on his album "Third Rhapsody". And he founded his own label, "7 Dreams Records". Many excellent recordings, of course as Pim said, above all with Mal Waldron (my favourite: "Misterioso - Live in Zürich") but also several excellent ones under his own name. RIP

Mal Waldron - Update (Soul Note)

Paul Gonsalves - Cookin: Complete 1956-1957 Sessions (Fresh Sound Records)

Brown had been often in Göttingen because of his musical work with Gunter Hampel. Didn´t know about this concert with Waldron. Caugth Waldron live in 1989 with his quartet and Jim Pepper in a small club. Great concert, I also never forget him smoking his long cigarillos during the set.

Mal Waldron & Marion Brown - Songs of Love and Regret (Free Lance)

Paul Weller - Wild Wood (Gol Disc)

Henri Texier - Healing Songs (Label Bleu)

The mid-eighties conceptual album "Fables of the Reconstruction" - with "Driver 8" as the catchiest number - remains an early masterpiece. Still my dearest album by the band that I caught a few years later live in Frankfurt - fabulous concert.

Peter Dahlgren - Unicorns First (Propophone)

Mal Waldron & Christian Burchard - Time Warp Vol II (Fuego)