repress due late may 2022

Archie Shepp & Mal Waldron: Left Alone Revisited



A group of men standing next to each other

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Label: Enja

Cat No: ENJA 91411

Format: 180 gram LP x 2 gatefold sleeve

Barcode: 5060149623466



Re-mastering by: Cicely Baston at Alchemy/Air Mastering



Mal Waldron's first tribute to Billie Holiday, titled Left Alone, was recorded in 1959, mere months before the singer's death. He returned to salute the legendary vocalist on several occasions since then, with this recording likely being his final tribute, recorded less than a year before his own death. Waldron, who worked with Holiday during her last years, is intimately familiar with her takes of the six standards heard on this disc, along with her own "Lady Sings the Blues." Archie Shepp's often gritty tenor sax is reminiscent of the texture of Holiday's voice, yet he perfectly complements Waldron's lush piano. They also pack a punch with their stark performance of "Left Alone" (Shepp's occasional reed squeaks seem deliberate, as if to imitate breaks in her voice). Waldron also recites Holiday's lyrics set to his composition at the conclusion of the LP. Shepp switches to soprano sax for an emotional take of "Everything Happens to Me" and "I Only Have Eyes for You," with the latter song sounding as if the unheard singer is being ignored by her love interest. Shepp's "Blues for 52nd Street" is both sassy and swinging. This instrumental salute to Billie Holiday is one of the best albums ever to honour her memory. by Ken Dryden/AMG



Track listing



Side A: 1. Easy Living

2. Nice Work If You Can Get It

3. Everything Happens

To Me



Side B:

1. Left Alone

2. When Your Lover Has Gone



Side C:

1. I Only Have Eyes For You

2. Blues For 52nd Street



Side D:

1. Porgy

2. Lady Sings The Blues

3. Left Alone (Spoken Lyrics)



Personnel: Archie Shepp – tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone & vocal

Mal Waldron – piano



Produced by Werner Aldinger



Recorded Feb 7 & 8 2002 at la muse en circuit, Paris