Mala Waldron is a native of NYC whose first paid gig playing keys and singing back-up vocals with a local R&B band, "Liquid Pleasure" at the Elk's club at age 15.  Shortly after joining the band, they were signed to a record deal with RCA records.  She later enrolled at SUNY, Old Westbury to study jazz piano, voice & composition with Makanda Ken McIntyre, Richard Harper, Warren Smith and Amina Claudine Myers, ultimately earning a B.A. Degree.

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Her career has enabled Mala to share her music all over the world in such places as Japan, France, Italy, Belgium, Italy, Russia and most recently Belarus.  Mala has performed in numerous international tours and festivals including the Hennessy-Moet Asian XOXO Jazz Tour (with shows in China, Taiwan & Malaysia), the Catania Jazz Fest, Corinaldo Jazz Fest and Farfa Voice Fest (Sabina) as well as festivals in the U.S., a highlight of which was the Annual Diet Coke Women in Jazz Festival (JALC) opening for Patrice Rushen.

 

As an educator, Mala has done vocal workshops in Italy, and participated in the WBGO Kids Jazz Concert Series lat the Newark Museum.  She was featured in the recently published book: "Giving Birth to Sound: Women in Creative Music" (Renate da Rin and & William Parker editors) and can be seen in the documentary film, 'The Girls in the Band" directed by Judy Chaikin.

Recordings as a featured artist include: "Lullabye," (solo debut and tribute to godmother, Billie Holiday,) "He's My Father." (duo project with father, pianist/composer - Mal Waldron) and "Always There" named one of JazzUSA's TOP 10 CDs of 2006.  Her new CD, "Deep Resonance" is set to release on April 22.