Mood Malody – Mal Waldron

Our audio excerpt starts right at the beginning of the recording, with the melody. Pianist/composer Mal Waldron plays some nice piano answers to the horn melody—all are notated in the C treble clef lead sheet. We're also providing second part editions so you can play the arrangement like the recording.

Jackie McLean's first recording in 1955 was with trumpeter Miles Davis. In 1951 his very first jazz recording was also with Miles, when Jackie was 20 years old. Jackie had started playing with Miles in 1949, and with tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins in 1948. This recording, "Presenting Jackie McLean," is the 24-year old's first album as a leader.

A month before, on September 9, he made his first recording with 22-year old trumpeter Donald Byrd, when they were both members of pianist George Wallington's Quintet, "Live! At The Cafe Bohemia." Bassist Doug Watkins (at 21) and pianist Mal Waldron (29) had both been on the jazz scene for about a year at the time of this recording, and it was their first recording with McLean. Mal Waldron was a very prolific composer with many recorded compositions over the years. As far as we've been able to research, Mood Malody was his first recorded composition.