Mal Waldron: The Quest (Limited Edition) (180g) (LP)

As early as 1962, Billboard wrote that this album by Waldron, one of Billie Holiday's favorite pianists, "contains two ingredients that showcase his deep-rooted talent: Melody and swing". The sextet is a tantalizing blend of avant-garde and hard bop and features a well-rounded sampling of talent with Eric Dolphy (alto saxophone), Booker Ervin (tenor saxophone), Ron Carter (cello), Joe Benjamin (upright bass) and Charlie Persip (drums). Even decades later, Waldron's compositions such as the sentimental "Duquility" and the escapist "Warm Canto" remain unmatched in their willingness to transcend genre and expectations. Meanwhile, "Fire Waltz" is a bright, cerebral pop delight. Craft Recordings announces the latest batch of 2024 reissues in its Original Jazz Classics series, a favorite of collectors and critics alike. The latest reissues include Clark Terry Quartet & Thelonious Monk's "In Orbit", Mal Waldron's "The Quest", Thelonious Monk Septet's "Monk's Music", Blue Mitchell's "Blue's Moods", and Cal Tjader's "Latin Kick".