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Judi Silvano & Mal Waldron RIDING A ZEPHYR SOUL NOTE 121348-2

 

1. You
2. Finding My Love
3. Cattin’
4. Soul Eyes
5. Eyes On You
6. Riding A Zephyr
7. A Time for Duke
8. All Night Through
9. Dust
10. Mal Waldron

Judy Silvano – Voice

Mal Waldron – Piano

This may have been Mal Waldron’s last recording; he died in December of 2002. He was one of the most experienced of jazz pianists and worked with the best of singers, Billie Holiday, Etta Jones and Abbey Lincoln, have all benefited from his talents as an accompanist. He has also worked in the bands of many of the biggest names in jazz, Charles Mingus, Eric Dolphy and Steve Lacey on the cutting edge and Gene Ammons, Ike Quebeck and Sonny Stitt, so he knew how to swing as well! He describes accompanying singers as laying down a carpet for them to walk, which he does very effectively for the very talented Judi Silvano on this album. Both artists have a classical musical training and that shows in the polish of their performance. On the other hand it probably causes their approach to the music to be a bit heavy. Judy is described as a fun-loving native Philadelphian, but if this album has a problem, it is that there ain’t a lot of fun around. It is all very worthy, but only Cattin’ and A Time for Duke gave me a lift. The last track is a fine piece of creative work however and Judy has done a fine job on getting Mal’s story into song.

This is a very accomplished piece of work, but I would love to hear Judi work with a top jazz trio, not trying to be too profound. The world has lost one of its finest jazz pianists with the passing on of Mal Waldron.

Don Mather

 

 

 

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