All Stars Trading Changes on a Prestige Session
A straightforward blowing session where five strong soloists take turns over Waldron's steady piano.
Wheelin' & Dealin' sits early in Mal Waldron's recording career, before he became known for his work with John Coltrane and his own leadership albums. Here he appears as the pianist in a Prestige all-star lineup, accompanying Frank Wess, Coltrane, and Paul Quinichette—three tenor saxophonists sharing the frontline, which immediately signals what kind of session this is: a casual jam where the label could rotate its contracted players and let them burn through a set of standards and blues. Waldron's role is supportive. He keeps things moving with direct, unfussy comping, never overplaying or trying to steer the conversation. Doug Watkins on bass and Art Taylor on drums provide the engine, tight and responsive without much flair. The soloists take their choruses, trade licks, and move on. There's nothing here that surprised or impressed critics much—the Penguin Guide rated it modestly, and AllMusic gave it three stars. It's the kind of session that exists partly because the record label owned these musicians' time and partly because work was work. For Waldron listeners tracking his development, this is a footnote: a working pianist doing his job competently on someone else's date. It has no special claim on your attention unless you're interested in hearing him in that supporting role or want a document of Prestige's assembly-line approach to recording in 1958.
Who's playing
Doug Watkinsdouble bass
Mal Waldronpiano
John Coltranetenor saxophone
Paul Quinichettetenor saxophone
Frank Wessflute
Art Taylordrums
Where next?
The musicians on this record
Their own records, close in time
