Ok so after writing about Christian McBride tonight, I was looking around YouTube and I saw this video of a performance of one of my favorite Wes Montgomery tunes, “Jingles”! The trio performing it was composed of Christian McBride on bass, Benny Green on piano and Russell Malone on guitar. I have recently learned a little about Christian McBride but I don’t know much about Malone or Green. Anyway,I watched the video and I was floored! Malone is outstanding on guitar as is Green on piano, but the driving force behind the whole 14 minutes on the tune is the phenomenal bass playing of McBride!1 He just doesn’t stop!!
After watching the video, I went to Wikipedia to found out a little about Russell Malone….
Russell Malone (born November 8, 1963 in Albany, Georgia) is an essentially self-taught[1] swing and bebop 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.[2]
Malone tours regularly as leader of The Russell Malone Quartet, and more recently in support of “Triple Play” (2010) of the Russell Malone Trio. When touring the US, Canada, Japan, and Europe, South America, and Australia, he can be seen in appearances with Dianne Reeves and Romero Lubambo and tours frequently with legendary bassist Ron Carter as part of the Golden Striker Trio often featuring Mulgrew Miller at piano. Other special guest appearances have included Malone with vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson, organist Dr. Lonnie Smith, pianist Hank Jones (in celebration of his 90th birthday). October, 2008, found Russell Malone in duo at Yoshi’s in Oakland, California, with fellow jazz guitarist and Grammy-winner Bill Frisell. The duo toured once again in February, 2009, in the Pacific Northwest and Canada. In 2010, Malone became a member of the band for saxophonist Sonny Rollins, (celebrating his 80th birthday in New York in September).
Hum, Jimmy Smith – Jimmy & Russell?? Bill Frissell?? Sonny Rollins??? – Looks like I’m headed for some Russell Malone in the morning!!
Then there’s Benny Green……
Benny Green (born April 4, 1963 in New York City) is a hard bop jazz pianist who was a member of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers.[1]
He has been compared to Bud Powell in style and counts him as an influence.
After high school he spent time in San Francisco, but professional success came on his return to New York. He joined Betty Carter’s band in April, 1983 and since 1991 he has led his own trio. He has worked most with Blue Note Records, Telarc International Corporation, and started with the Dutch label Criss Cross Jazz.
Overall after watching their performance of “Jingles” I echo one of the comments at YouTube. Awesome!!
I’m thrilled to see that you have discovered this wonderful trio. They are the FIRST jazz artists I ever met back in 2005, when my daughter, Ashley Webster, a jazz pianist, was at Centrum/Port Townsend Jazz Camp and Festival. This trio conducted a Saturnday morning workshop, and that is where I met Russell Malone, and have admired him ever since. The duo team of Benny and Russell headlined the Saturday evening concert. Benny continues to inspire Ashley, and they have kept in touch. He comes to Seattle almost every year and we try to see him. Russell and Christian don’t come to Seattle as often, but we have seen them each time also.
Just remember to remember Russell’s last name as Malone, not Moore. If that was a a little slip, I totally understand.
I am the contributor to Russell’s Wikipedia page, btw, as well as his All About Jazz musician profile page.
Enjoy their music!
Kandie Le Britain Webster in Washington State ~ jazzylover59
It’s really great to hear that the people who you listen to and admire as musicians are also great people, too. I watched a couple of YouTube interviews with Christian McBride and came away very impressed! Sorry about that slip with Malone and Moore I listen to bluegrass to and the name Russell Moore is more familiar to me than Malone! Again thanks for commenting! Ed