This newly issued 2008 release stands as bop/avant-garde pianist Mal Waldron’s last known recording, per the press release. And of course the artist is revered for his work with jazz diva Billie Holiday. This collaboration with multi-reedman and stylist David Murray presents a study in radiating complements and contrasts, where the duo tackles originals amid jazz and pop standards.
Murray is primarily the lead soloist, whereas the musicians’ expressive synergy and intuition cannot be undermined. On the opener "Free for C.T.," Murray’s bass clarinet lines convey a sanguine vibe atop Waldron’s poetic thematic development. Think of a lazy and rather carefree day as they project lucid imagery throughout the preponderance of these inspiring works.
The duo ventures into the free-zone on occasion, where Murray’s climactic phrasings generate a hybrid free-bop sound often touched with moody sentiment and soulful balladry. But Waldron’s buoyant and lyrically-rich clusters help define the song structures which are elements that offer counterpoint to the saxophonist’s angular lines and acute sense of the dynamic. And the artists execute an animated and gently flowing spin on Miles Davis’ "All Too Soon," as Murray simply rolls off Waldron’s blithe grooves. At times, they make even the more cerebral motifs sound effortless and passionate.