Malcolm's contributions here enriched my musical and intellectual life immeasurably.

Mudcat is a treasure, and Malcolm is one of the people who has made it so. It is a joy to be connected if only by the Net to so many people who share a passion for the music. And many who take it seriously. Yet even here, not so many of us have had the drive, the dedication, the resources (inner and outer), and the brilliance to track down the music to the extent Malcolm did.

There was something deeply satisfying about the way he could illuminate a tune or a song, bringing it to life in one context or another, that made it easy to acknowledge one's own limitations or biases. I never felt chided by his corrections, never felt that they were motivated by anything other than a desire for truth and understanding.

There is a lot not to like in the world sometimes; I feel deeply blessed when I think about Mudcat, and Malcolm. Integrity, passion, intellectual excellence, and a sense of not being alone in the things that really matter, the things that feed the soul.

I often send a prayer of appreciation for the departed and good speed when I see an obituary here. It's not often I feel compelled to express it to the community. I couldn't let this one pass without a word for how much Malcolm's presence here meant to me.