As well as his composing, Waldron was known for his rather monochrome amalgam of Monk and Powell, often very effective as a contrast to associates such as Mingus or Coltrane. In among his group recordings and those with various Prestige All Stars in the late 1950s, he did three trio LPs for New Jazz and Bethlehem that focus on his piano work and show his seemingly obsessive improv routines to best effect. With a leavening of standards, his varied originals are highlighted by ‘J.M.'s Dream Doll’ (dedicated to Jackie McLean's wife) and his Billie Holiday ballad ‘Left Alone’, the one track on which McLean is added. The second reissue is rather different: the fact that the two LPs done on a single day were recorded for the Japanese market accounts for both the total concentration on song standards and their rather formulaic interpretations. Though there are some engaging moments and Mraz comes through strongly, Waldron is not really at his best and his technique seems diminished since the 1950s.