Those who have been following jazz in the ‘90s have probably wondered about guitarist Russell Malone. Hiding in plain sight, in Robert Altman´s 1996 movie Kansas City. On records like Stephen Scott´s 1997 release The Beautiful Thing, on Benny Green´s 1997 recording Kaleidoscope. As a member of Diana Krall´s studio and live band, playing on the Grammy-nominated All For You and Love Scenes and touring the world with the vocalist/pianist. Not to mention recordings with Roy Hargrove and Gary Bartz, among others. Believe it, Malone has been anything but inactive.
A native of Albany, Georgia, he grew up influenced by the deep spirituals of his childhood chruch environment. He received his first guitar - "a green plastic four-string" - at the age of four. A major turning point came when he saw B.B. King play "How Blue Can You Get" on the popular ‘70s TV show "Sanford and Son". That experience led him to listen to more blues, country music, and jazz, and artists like Chet Atkins, Johnny Cash, Wes Montgomery and George Benson.
A self-taught player, he progressed well enough to land a gig with master organist Jimmy Smith when he was 25. ("It made me realize that I wasn´t as good as I thought I was," Malone recalls of his first on-stage jam with Smith.) After two years with Smith, he hooked up with Harry Connick Jr.´s orchestra, a position he held from 1990-94. But Malone also worked in a variety of contexts, performing with artists as diverse as Clarence Carter, Little Anthony, Peabo Bryson, Mulgrew Miller, Kenny Barron, Roy Hargorve, The Winans, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, Bucky Pizzarelli, and Jack McDuff.
Along the way, Malone made a name for himself with a sound that combines the bluesy sould of Grant Green and Kenny Burrell with the relentless attack of Django Reinhardt and Pat Martino.
Born in Albany, Georgia, Russell Malone grew up playing a variety of music. Eventually, he made jazz his main focus, but he never lost his appreciation of other styles. Malone, who now lives in New Jersey, was 25 when, in 1988, he was hired as a sideman by the seminal organist Jimmy Smith. He went on to back Harry Connick, Jr. ('s where I learned of his existence) from 1990-1994 and spent four years working with Verve labelmate Diana Krall, in addition to guesting on numerous recordings.
Malone first recorded as a leader in 1992, when he provided his self-titled debut album for Columbia. Subsequently, Malone recorded Black Butterfly for Columbia in 1993, Wholly Cats for Japan’s Venus label in 1995, Sweet Georgia Peach for Impulse! in 1998, and Look Who’s Here for Verve in 1999.
(Btw, this is a FAN-site, I am not Russell Malone! I'm just a guitarist who thinks the man is one of the greatest players around! As soon as he goes official, my work here will be done!)
Ron Mitchell!
