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Always There by Mala Waldron
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fave it Jazz Fusion | Jazz Vocals
11 tracks | 59 minutes
Released Feb 2006
on Soulful Sound Music
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- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 05:26 Whispers in the Wind lyrics BUY MP3 05:26 Whispers in the Wind lyrics "GIFT MP3" 05:26 Whispers in the Wind
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 05:29 Because of You lyrics BUY MP3 05:29 Because of You lyrics "GIFT MP3" 05:29 Because of You
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 06:04 Always There lyrics BUY MP3 06:04 Always There lyrics "GIFT MP3" 06:04 Always There
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 04:38 Too Good For Words lyrics BUY MP3 04:38 Too Good For Words lyrics "GIFT MP3" 04:38 Too Good For Words
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 05:59 I Do Remember You lyrics BUY MP3 05:59 I Do Remember You lyrics "GIFT MP3" 05:59 I Do Remember You
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 06:38 Ellie lyrics BUY MP3 06:38 Ellie lyrics "GIFT MP3" 06:38 Ellie
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 06:01 Why (when I say goodbye) lyrics BUY MP3 06:01 Why (when I say goodbye) lyrics "GIFT MP3" 06:01 Why (when I say goodbye)
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 04:43 Can't Stop (thinking about you) lyrics BUY MP3 04:43 Can't Stop (thinking about you) lyrics "GIFT MP3" 04:43 Can't Stop (thinking about you)
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 04:24 Light My Fire lyrics BUY MP3 04:24 Light My Fire lyrics "GIFT MP3" 04:24 Light My Fire
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 05:27 Proud Lion lyrics BUY MP3 05:27 Proud Lion lyrics "GIFT MP3" 05:27 Proud Lion
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 04:44 Maybe It's Not So lyrics BUY MP3 04:44 Maybe It's Not So lyrics "GIFT MP3" 04:44 Maybe It's Not So
"Sophisticated Soul-Jazz at its best," writes Barry Towler (Soul Express). For fans of Marilyn Scott, Phyllis Hyman, Randy Crawford. Features: Miriam Sullivan (bs), Steve Salerno (gtr), Michael T.A. Thompson (dms) & Mala Waldron (voc/piano/songwriter)
Editorial review
Because singer Mala Waldron is the daughter of the late hard bop/post-bop pianist Mal Waldron (as in "Soul Eyes"), it would logical to expect Always There to be a straight-ahead jazz release. But actually, Always There is more R&B than anything; this is an album of jazz-influenced soul, not hardcore vocal jazz -- and stylistically, the comparisons that come to mind include Phyllis Hyman, Minnie Riperton, Randy Crawford, Chaka Khan and Angela Bofill rather than Ella Fitzgerald or Carmen McRae. Some jazz snobs might be disappointed to learn that Waldron doesn't spend all her time scat-singing her way through bop standards like John Coltrane's "Giant Steps" and Charlie Parker's "Ornithology" (although she does scat at times), but as Duke Ellington once pointed out, there are really only two types of music when you get down to it -- good and bad -- and Always There is a good R&B album. Waldron's R&B isn't R&B of the hip-hop-drenched neo-soul variety ? la Jill Scott, India.Arie or Lauryn Hill; rather, she gets much of her inspiration from what was called quiet storm in the late '70s and early '80s. Back then, there were a lot of quiet storm stations in the United States that favored a smooth, polished blend of crossover jazz and uptown soul; they would play Grover Washington, Jr., Ronnie Laws and David Sanborn on the instrumental side followed by Hyman, Bofill or Khan on the vocal side, and that vocal side of quiet storm is clearly what floats Waldron's boat on Always There (which is dominated by the singer's original material but also contains a likable remake of the Doors' "Light My Fire.") Even the production is very '70s-minded; instead of embracing the high-tech, programmed approach that has been the norm in R&B since about 1983-1984, Michael "T.A." Thompson (the album's producer) keeps things organic and oversees an honest-to-God band. Always There, which was recorded in 2003 and 2005, falls short of spectacular, but it is a good, solid, noteworthy example of '70s-style R&B being made in the 21st century. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
Bio / Background
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"When you hear Mala Waldron's soulful voice ... you realize that you are experiencing something very special, for Waldron is not only an accomplished vocalist and songwriter, but also a fine pianist who hits the keys with great precision, bringing various musical influences into a jazz realm."
Ernest Barteldes - All About Jazz
"...Her lovely & recent effort is an amalgam of fine originals ... Crossing over into several musical schools ... She's a keeper!"
George W. Carroll - Ejazznews.com
"...a knockout on both piano and vocals."
Jon Olsen, Blogcritics.org - Indie Round-up
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Selected Artist Discography
Nov. 2006 - "Always There" (Columbia Music Ent) - new Japanese release contains bonus tracks
Sept.
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