Russell Malone

Russell Malone
Malone in 2019
Malone in 2019
Background information
Birth nameRussell Lamar Malone
Born(1963-11-08)November 8, 1963
Albany, Georgia, U.S.
DiedAugust 23, 2024(2024-08-23) (aged 60)
Tokyo, Japan
GenresJazz
InstrumentGuitar
Years active1980s–2024
Labels

Russell Lamar Malone (November 8, 1963 – August 23, 2024) was an American jazz guitarist. He began working with Jimmy Smith in 1988 and went on to work with Harry Connick Jr. and Diana Krall throughout the 1990s.[1]

Biography

Malone was born in Albany, Georgia, United States on November 8, 1963. He began playing at the age of four with a toy guitar that his mother bought him. He was influenced by B. B. King and The Dixie Hummingbirds.[2] A significant experience for Malone was when he was 12 years old seeing George Benson perform on television with Benny Goodman. Malone was mostly self-taught.[3][4]

Starting in 1988, he spent two years with Jimmy Smith, then three with Harry Connick Jr. In 1995, Malone became the guitarist for the Diana Krall Trio,[3] participating in three Grammy-nominated albums, including When I Look in Your Eyes, which won the award for Best Vocal Jazz Performance. Malone was part of pianist Benny Green's recordings in the late 1990s and 2000: Kaleidoscope (1997), These Are Soulful Days (1999), and Naturally (2000). The two formed a duo and released the live album Jazz at The Bistro in 2003 and the studio album Bluebird in 2004. They toured until 2007.[citation needed]

Malone toured with Ron Carter, Roy Hargrove, and Dianne Reeves and did session work with Kenny Barron, Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Jack McDuff, Mulgrew Miller, and Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson. He recorded his first solo album in 1992 and led his own trio and quartet.[3] He also appeared as a special guest with vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson, organist Dr. Lonnie Smith, and pianist Hank Jones in celebration of his 90th birthday. In October 2008, Malone performed in a duo with guitarist Bill Frisell at Yoshi's in Oakland, California. During the next year, Malone became a member of the band for saxophonist Sonny Rollins, celebrating his 80th birthday in New York City.[citation needed]

Malone recorded live on September 9–11, 2005, at Jazz Standard, New York City, and Maxjazz documented the performances on the albums Live at Jazz Standard, Volume One (2006) and Live at Jazz Standard, Volume Two (2007). Appearing on these two volumes, and touring as The Russell Malone Quartet, were Martin Bejerano on piano, Tassili Bond on bass, and Johnathan Blake on drums. Malone's 2010 recording Triple Play (also on Maxjazz) featured David Wong on bass and Montez Coleman on drums. His album, All About Melody featured pianist Rick Germanson, bassist Luke Sellick, and drummer Willie Jones III.[5][6]

Malone died from a heart attack in Tokyo on August 23, 2024, at the age of 60; he had been on tour in Japan as part of a trio with Carter and Donald Vega.[7][8]

Discography

As leader

  • Russell Malone (Columbia, 1992)
  • Black Butterfly (Columbia, 1993)
  • Sweet Georgia Peach (Impulse!, 1998)
  • Look Who's Here (Verve, 2000)
  • Heartstrings (Verve, 2001)
  • Ray Brown/Monty Alexander/Russell Malone (Telarc, 2002)
  • Jazz at the Bistro with Benny Green (Telarc, 2003)
  • Bluebird with Benny Green (Telarc, 2004)
  • Playground (Maxjazz, 2004)
  • Live at Jazz Standard Vol. One (Maxjazz, 2006)
  • Live at Jazz Standard Vol. Two (Maxjazz, 2007)
  • Triple Play (Maxjazz, 2010)
  • Love Looks Good on You (HighNote, 2015)
  • All About Melody (HighNote, 2016)
  • Time for the Dancers (HighNote, 2017)

As guest

With Ray Brown

  • Some of My Best Friends Are...Singers (Telarc, 1998)
  • Christmas Songs with the Ray Brown Trio (Telarc, 1999)
  • Some of My Best Friends Are...Guitarists (Telarc, 2002)

With Harry Connick Jr.

  • We Are in Love (Columbia, 1990)
  • Blue Light Red Light (Columbia, 1991)
  • When My Heart Finds Christmas (Columbia, 1993)

With Benny Green

  • Kaleidoscope (Blue Note, 1997)
  • These Are Soulful Days (Blue Note, 1999)
  • Naturally (Telarc, 2000)

With Diana Krall

With Houston Person

With David Sanborn

With others

References

  1. ^ Neuroth, Matt. (2008). Bio: Russell Malone. Retrieved January 13, 2008 Down Beat Archived November 18, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ "Billy Taylor's Jazz | Guest Artist: Russell Malone". NPR. Archived from the original on September 19, 2017. Retrieved January 13, 2008.
  3. ^ a b c Yanow, Scott (2013). The Great Jazz Guitarists. San Francisco: Backbeat. p. 128. ISBN 978-1-61713-023-6.
  4. ^ Jung, Fred. "A Fireside Chat with Russell Malone". Jazz Weekly. Archived from the original on October 19, 2006. Retrieved January 13, 2008.
  5. ^ Collar, Matt. "All About Melody". AllMusic. Archived from the original on July 20, 2017. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
  6. ^ Chinen, Nate (June 2, 2016). "Jazz Listings for June 3–9". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 15, 2017. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
  7. ^ Risen, Clay (August 25, 2024). "Russell Malone, Acclaimed Jazz Guitarist, Dies at 60". The New York Times. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  8. ^ Feiner, Seth; Karla Heath-Sands (August 23, 2024). "Jazz guitarist, Albany native Russell Malone passes away". WALB News. Archived from the original on August 23, 2024. Retrieved August 23, 2024.