Malcolm Earl Waldron was an American jazz and world music pianist and composer. His jazz work was chiefly in the hard bop, post-bop and free jazz genres. He is known for his distinctive chord voicing and adaptable style, which was originally inspired by the playing of Thelonious Monk.
Waldron had a unique playing style – it was combination of bebop and avant-garde melodies, and at times weaving repetitive melodic motifs using just a few notes over a drone like accompaniment figure. He also composed for films, theatre, and ballet.