Mal Waldron was a revered pianist and well known jazz musician, especially from the 1950s through the end of the 1960s. Having played with so many giants, including John Coltrane, Charles Mingus, Jackie McLean, and Billie Holiday, it was easy to find him on many important albums.

I was lucky enough to see Mal in person at an intimate jazz club in Washington, D.C. in the early 1980s. I actually sat right next to him and watched his long fingers effortlessly work their magic. He was absolutely brilliant!

Recently, I read an article about his earlier troubles that I wasn’t aware of and discovered a sad but truly inspiring story.

Like so many jazz musicians in New York and of his day, Mal fell into drug use and suffered a breakdown when he overdosed on heroin in 1963. After his breakdown, he could not play or remember any music. Over several years, he gradually regained his skills and endured to teach himself to play again, partly by listening to his own records. He left the U.S. permanently in the mid-1960s, settled in Europe, and continued touring internationally until his death.

I have never heard of an artist having to relearn their craft with the assistance of using their own recordings. Such a testament of perseverance inspired me to paint.

Here’s my tribute piece to Mal entitled: “Ádooji“ which is Navajo for “He Named Himself; He Announced His Name”

“Ádooji”