The Mal Waldron Trio was a jazz group led by pianist, composer and arranger Mal Waldron (born in New York City, New York on August 16, 1925). Before the formation of the trio, Mal Waldron had already established himself as popular sideman and arranger, playing alongside Charles Mingus, Lucky Millinder, and Lucky Thompson. Mal Waldron had also been Billy Holiday’s regular accompanist during the last two years of her life (1957-59). Often compared to Thelonious Monk, he began his career playing hard bop and post-bop but gradually moved towards a free jazz direction. He formed the Mal Waldron Trio - with Addison Farmer (bass) and Albert Heath (drums) - and released the album Impressions (1959). The trio had a fluid membership during their existence and released two more albums before a drug overdose triggered an emotional breakdown in 1963 and left him unable to play piano for a short time. After recovering and recording several more albums - Mal Waldron Trio (1966), Sing or Play the Music of Jimmy McHugh (1967), and Blood and Guts (1970) - he signed a deal with ECM Records and released the album Free at Last (1970), which is now considered a landmark album in his career. Mal Waldron continued to record albums - over 100 total as a leader/co-leader — and record as a sideman until his death on December 2, 2002.
