Thank you and your patronage is greatly appreciated regardless if you buy me a coffee or not □ – Lyle Robinson Your support helps me to focus on Jazz Guitar Life so that I can continue to bring you great interviews, reviews, podcasts and other related Jazz Guitar content. Wayne GoinsĪs a one-man operation, if you would like to support all the work I do on Jazz Guitar Life, please consider buying me a coffee or two. So sit back, relax, and enjoy our exclusive interview with the one and only Russell Malone – Dr. Ever the gentleman, Malone still took time out of his busy schedule to share his experience with us-and what a unique story he has to tell! Wayne Goins called him from Manhattan (Kansas!) during the early days of March, Russell was preparing to leave Manhattan (New York!) the next day-headed to Chicago to participate in a tribute to Les Paul the following day. His studio recordings and live performances as both solo artist and sideman have earned him the reputation the consummate musician-one of the highest honors that bestowed upon those of his caliber. Russell Malone is, without a doubt, one of the most legendary jazz guitarists of our time. And I bought the records because of the guitar players, but there was something about the bass player, something about his personality that just made me listen to him and to what he was doing, because it seems as if-and this is not just on those records, but a whole lot of other records that he’s on-everything seems to revolve around what he’s doing… Russell Malone And Ron Carter was on a whole lot of those records. My first guitar records were records by George Benson, Wes Montgomery and Kenny Burrell. I mean, I started listening to jazz when I was 12. In 2017, he delivered his third HighNote album, Time for the Dancers, featuring his quartet with pianist Rick Germanson, bassist Luke Sellick, and drummer Willie Jones III.First of all, it was his music. He returned to solo work in 2015 with the eclectic small-group album Love Looks Good on You, followed a year later by All About Melody, both on HighNote. Over the next several years, Malone appeared on albums by Wynton Marsalis, Christian McBride, and Ron Carter, as well as Krall bandmate bassist Ben Wolfe. He then moved to Maxjazz for 2004's Playground, featuring a guest appearance from saxophonist Gary Bartz, followed by 2010's Triple Play. Malone kicked off the 2000s with several albums on Verve, including 2000's Look Who's Here and 2001's orchestral jazz-themed Heartstrings. In 1999, he released Sweet Georgia Peach, which featured a guest appearance from pianist Kenny Barron. Also during this period, Malone appeared with a bevy of name artists including Branford Marsalis, Benny Green, Terell Stafford, Ray Brown, and others.Īs a solo artist, Malone made his debut with 1992's Russell Malone, followed a year later by Black Butterfly. With his growing reputation as a sideman, Malone next caught the attention of pianist/vocalist Diana Krall, with whom he would work throughout much of the '90s and 2000s. Soon after, he also became a member of Harry Connick, Jr.'s big band, appearing on Connick's 1991 effort Blue Light, Red Light. However, after seeing George Benson perform with Benny Goodman on a television show, Malone was hooked on jazz and began intently studying albums by legendary guitarists like Charlie Christian and Wes Montgomery.īy his twenties, Malone was an accomplished performer, and in 1988 he joined organist Jimmy Smith's band. Largely self-taught, he initially drew inspiration listening to the recordings of gospel and blues artists including the Dixie Hummingbirds and B.B. Born in Albany, Georgia in 1963, Malone first began playing guitar around age four on a toy instrument, quickly graduating to the real thing. An adept jazz guitarist with a clean attack and fluid, lyrical style, Russell Malone often plays in a swinging, straight-ahead style, weaving in elements of blues, gospel, and R&B.
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