The jazz world is in shock after hearing the sad news that guitarist Russell Malone died earlier today whilst on tour in Japan with Ron Carter.
It is one of my greatest regrets that I never got to hear him live although he has been featured on many albums reviewed on BSH. Indeed the last one, Ben Wolfe's The Understated, was reviewed earlier this month. Although he only played on a couple of tracks 'the understated' could easily be used to describe Russell Malone. More often a sideman than a leader, he enhanced many sessions by Diana Krall, Benny Green (pianist), Houston Person, Ray Brown and many more.
Russell Malone was sixty.
R.I.P. Lance
2 comments :
Russell Malone was one of the younger jazz guitarists that I much admired. In many ways he was carrying on the jazz guitar tradition laid down by Barney Kessel, Herb Ellis and Wes Montgomery. I especially liked his recordings with Diana Krall, Monty Alexander and Benny Green. I never actually met him, However, I almost did. When I was in San Diego in 1996 visiting Barney Kessel he told me I had just missed Russell. He had called a little earlier that day with Diana Krall and her bassist Paul Keller. They had come to say hello and invite Barney to their concert in San Diego. Russell Malone's too early death is a great loss for the jazz world.
I saw him a few times when he played on the Jazz Cruises and to witness the way did those bop classic at breaknet tempo with Bennie Green was to see the art of the duo at its best.
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