Artist page · 04/07/2026
About
7 essential albums on vinyl, including sought-after pressings of "The Quest" and "Mal/2."
Mal Waldron's career spanned multiple decades, beginning in the 1950s, marked by collaborations with artists like John Coltrane, Eric Dolphy, and Steve Lacy. His catalog includes influential studio and live albums mainly on labels such as Prestige and New Jazz. Despite a cerebral accident in 1963 requiring relearning the piano, Waldron continued composing and performing, moving to Europe in 1965 and recording extensively there. His work blends avant-garde elements with hard bop and post-bop explorations.
Vinyl editions of key albums like "Mal/2" (1957) and "The Quest" (1962) remain valuable, especially original US pressings. His discography reflects a rich legacy admired by jazz collectors and enthusiasts, with numerous reissues and live recordings available on vinyl.
Discography
Studio albums, EPs and notable live records, from newest to oldest. Drag the timeline to browse.
Enja Records · 1977
Victor · 1976
Horo Records · 1975
Calumet · 1975
Enja Records · 1974
Fontana · 1974
Enja Records · 1974
Trio Records · 1974
Victor · 1973
Black Lion Records · 1973
Paula Records · 1973
Victor · 1972
America Records · 1972
America Records · 1972
Numera Records · 1971
Polydor · 1971
Victor World Group · 1971
Victor World Group · 1971
Philips · 1971
Enja Records · 1971
Futura Records · 1970
Victor World Group · 1970
Globe · 1970
Victor World Group · 1970
Impulse! · 1967
GTA Records · 1966
Powertree Records, Inc. · 1965
Status Records · 1965
Status Records · 1965
New Jazz · 1962
New Jazz · 1962
New Jazz · 1961
Bethlehem Records · 1960
New Jazz · 1958
Prestige · 1958
New Jazz · 1958
Prestige · 1958
Prestige · 1957
Prestige · 1957
Prestige · 1957Playlist
The tracks that sum up Mal Waldron's career.
The essentials
Our pick, validated by the editorial team.
A 7-track album featuring free jazz and hard bop elements, sought for its original 1962 US New Jazz pressing, often priced above 500€.
Hard bop classic with 6 tracks, originally released on Prestige, with original US pressings rare and valued by collectors.
Recent live album capturing a collaboration with Steve Lacy, reflecting Waldron's continued influence and presence in modern jazz circles.
Go further
Artists who share part of Mal Waldron's musical DNA.
Collectors
The hidden side of the catalogue: rare pressings, sought-after matrices, Discogs values.
For each reference edition, these cards summarise the state of the global Discogs market. Market position places the average price of a copy between the observed min and max prices. Average price is the price seen for a mint-condition copy. Copies available counts listings currently for sale. Collectors who want it is the number of Discogs users who added it to their wantlist without owning it — a good signal of upcoming demand.
The “Why this rarity” column comes from our upstream sourcing work: for each album, we explain what makes this pressing sought after by collectors (limited run, specific matrix, withdrawn edition…).
Face B
Studio secrets, touring anecdotes and B-sides worth the whole album.
"An accident in 1963 forced me to relearn piano through my own recordings."— Mal Waldron
Released in 1962, "The Quest" features a mono US pressing with catalog number NJ 8269. It has a high demand with a want/have ratio of over 4:1 and sells between 300 and 590 euros.
"Mal/2" was originally released in 1957 on Prestige, pressed as a mono LP with catalog number PRLP 7111. It is highly sought after with a want/have ratio of 8.6:1, though no original copies are currently for sale.
The 1976 "Like Old Times" promo pressing on Victor in Japan has a want/have ratio above 10:1, showing extreme rarity and value for collectors.
In 2024, "Mal Waldron & Steve Lacy. The Mighty Warriors - Live In Antwerp" was released, highlighting Waldron's collaborative artistry with Steve Lacy captured on vinyl.
FAQ
The most common questions about pressings, reissues and limited editions.
Mal Waldron was a jazz pianist and composer from New York, known for post-bop, hard bop, free jazz, and avant-garde styles.
Notable albums include "The Quest" (1962), "Mal/2" (1957), and the recent live album with Steve Lacy, all available in various vinyl pressings.
Yes, original US pressings like "The Quest" and "Mal/2" are rare and command prices usually above several hundred euros.
French record stores and online marketplaces often stock reissues and some original pressings, though originals remain scarce.
His style mixes structured hard bop with avant-garde free jazz, incorporating complex harmonies and emotional depth.
The accident required him to relearn piano by listening to his own past recordings, shaping his unique later style.
Yes, he composed for cinema, theater, and dance, expanding his creative reach beyond jazz performance.
Paris and Lyon are notable cities where collectors can explore jazz vinyl shops and fairs for rare records.
Transparency
This page is compiled by the vinyles.com editorial team from public sources and our marketplace.
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