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| Mala Waldron at The Jazz Standard  Jazz/soul vocalist, pianist and songwriter, Mala Waldron prepared her new album "Always There" (street date: March 16, 2006). It is her first domestic release, after having had two prior label deals in Japan on Tokuma Communications and 3361/Black, Maturity. The new tracks include the artist's explosive arrangement of Light My Fire, as well as two deeply moving ballads (one, an impassioned tribute to her father, jazz pianist/composer, Mal Waldron), and a wealth of original songs that merge musical genres in unexpected ways.Other artists featured on the CD are: Miriam Sullivan on acoustic bass, Steve Salerno on guitar and Michael 'T.A.' Thompson on drums/percussion. This unit, performing together since October 2002, will have a premier CD Release Event/Concert at The Jazz Standard, NY, on March 27, 2006. As the daughter of 2 jazz musicians, Mala is no stranger to the music business or to the many styles of jazz. A lot of what I first learned about improvisation came as a result of listening and studying my father's recordings, recalls Ms. Waldron. She's been gigging professionally since she was 15 when she joined a local band. That band was signed to RCA Records the following year, thus beginning her career as a recording artist. She went on to study jazz with multiple-reed player, Makanda Ken McIntyre at SUNY, College at Old Westbury, receiving her B.A. It was there that she was taken under the wing of composer/arranger, James 'Jabbo' Ware. Mr. Ware featured her during many concerts with his "Me, We & Them Orchestra" as they played her arrangements of her original music. She re-united with the MWTO most recently during a 2004 concert at St. Peter's Church in New York City. Other career highlights for the songstress include performances with Andy Bey, Jeanne Lee, Cecil McBee, George Cables, Hilton Ruiz, James Williams, Billy Drummond, Victor Lewis, John Betsch, Don Braden, Andrei Strobert, Warren Smith and Japanese violinist, Naoko Terai. Her previous work can be heard on "He's My Father" (duo with Mal Waldron) and her debut solo release, "Lullabye". Guitarist, Steve Salerno is an active performer of both jazz and classical music. He has played with numerous artists including Jaco Pastorius, John Abercrombie, Ray Anderson, Mark Helias, Regina Carter, Randy Brecker and Nat Adderly, Jr. Steve is the Founding Director of the Jazz Program at Stony Brook University. He is featured on the soundtrack recording for John Feldman's film, "Dead Funny" starring Andrew McCarthy and Elizabeth Pena. Bassist, Miriam Sullivan is a graduate of Music and Performing Arts High School and Manhattan School of Music Conservatory. She has toured all over the world including South America with the Jazz Ambassador Program. Her performance credits include work with Wynton Marsalis, Joshua Redman, Rachel Z, Lionel Hampton and Hip Hop band "3 Bean Stew" led by Quame. Soundrhythium Michael 'T.A.' Thompson has toured and recorded with a variety of artists including Joe McPhee, John Stubblefield, Henry Grimes, Roy Campbell Jr., John Patitucci, Oliver Lake, William Parker, Barbara Sfraga and The Mighty Sparrow. His work can also be heard on the Drimala Records release Language of Swans. He served as producer on "Always There", as well as an upcoming release by vocalist Barbara Sfraga & CSQ entitled "Timelessness Frozen in Time". write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Jazz News :: home page |