Russell Malone

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Russell Malone
Russell Malone, jazz guitarist.jpg
Background information
Birth name Russell Malone
Born November 8, 1963 (age 54)
Albany, Georgia, United States
Genres Jazz
Occupation(s) Musician
Instruments Guitar
Years active 1980s�present
Labels Columbia, Impulse!, Venus, Verve, Telarc, Maxjazz, HighNote
Associated acts Jimmy Smith, Harry Connick, Jr., Diana Krall
Russell Malone (born November 8, 1963) is 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]

Contents
1 Biography
2 Discography
2.1 Studio albums
2.2 Live albums
2.3 As sideman or guest
3 References
Biography
Malone was born in Albany, Georgia, United States. He began playing at the age of
four with a toy guitar his mother bought him. He was influenced by B.B. King and
The Dixie Hummingbirds.[2] A significant experience was when he was twelve and saw
George Benson perform on television with Benny Goodman. He is mostly self-taught.
[3][4]

Starting in 1988, he spent two years with Jimmy Smith, then three with Harry
Connick Jr. In 1995, he 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.

Malone has toured with Ron Carter, Roy Hargrove, and Dianne Reeves and has done
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 has led his own trio and quartet.[3] Other guest appearances have included
Malone with vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson, organist Dr. Lonnie Smith, and pianist
Hank Jones in celebration of his 90th birthday. In October 2008 he 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.

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]