Russell Malone

Working with musicians such as Diana Krall, Harry Connick Jr. and the late Jimmy Smith, guitarist Russell Malone has proved to be a sensitive sideman and a tasteful soloist in the idioms of swing, hard bop and the Great American Songbook. On his own — or with his frequent duet partner, pianist Benny Green — Malone takes a few more chances with non-traditional material and reveals more of his influences from gospel, blues and even country. Regardless of the musical context, the 43-year-old Malone (who's releasing a new live CD on the St. Louis-based MAXJAZZ label) continues to display the same clean picking technique, harmonic and melodic imagination, and well-rounded tone that has made him one of the most admired jazz guitarists of his generation.