The Jazz Guitar Community Mourns The Passing Of Russell Malone, RIP

Jazz guitarist Russell Malone died suddenly on August 23, 2024 at age 60.  Russell was on tour in Japan with bassist Ron Carter when he apparently had a heart attack.

JGT contributor Joe Barth shares comments from some of Russell’s peers.

Russell was born in Albany, Georgia on November 8, 1963.  At age four, he became enamored with the guitar when his mother bought him a toy guitar.  It was at age twelve when he saw George Benson perform on television with Benny Goodman that he fell in love with jazz guitar.  Russell is a self-taught guitarist. His professional career began in 1988 when he began to travel with organist Jimmy Smith.  He then worked with Harry Connick Jr. for three years before he became pianist/singer Diana Krall’s guitarist in 1995.  He was with Diana for about five years.  Since then, Russell has performed with the “Who’s Who” of jazz.

In my over twenty-five years of interviewing the greatest jazz guitarists the artistry of Russell Malone has come up many times. Here are what six of Russell’s peers have said about him.

Russell’s Jazz Guitar Today interview one year ago.

Bobby Bloom

I could tell it was Russell by his rhythmic approach.  Like I said earlier about (Pat) Martino’s sound and Wes’ (Montgomery) sound, Russell’s sound is defined by his rhythmic choices.  Also, Russell and I would also say, Peter Bernstein and Mark Whitfield as a group, all give the same careful attention to how their notes sound with their articulation.  This is especially true when they are playing the melody.

Russell has been playing with Sonny (Rollins) since I left.  I worked recently with Russell and Frank Vignola in a Charlie Christian – Django Reinhardt tribute.   It was great.

Rod Fleeman (Karrin Allyson’s guitarist)

Russell and Diana Krall have done some nice things together.  Russell is someone like Joe Pass.  He is a great improviser, but he also has a deep bag in what he can do behind a solo singer.  Just where you need something, (pause) there it is!  He is always tasty and always relaxed.  Russell, like Joe, is like a great piano player in supporting a singer. 

To do this well, you have to actually like this (laughter)!  I have seen some guitar players who act like they are going to get a case of hives if they accompany a singer in a relaxed rubato setting.  I love vocalists and working with them.  Listen to how Russell is using chords, moving the harmony around but always keeping the time flowing. He is never ridged.  The time is there but relaxed.  I can tell that he is playing with a rhythm section in his head.  He is hearing the other instruments in his mind as he accompanies solo.  Nice!  

Henry Johnson 

When I met Russell, he was playing with Jimmy Smith and I was playing with Ramsey Lewis.  In the first tune that they played, there was a spot in the song where all the other instruments dropped out and Russell played a passage of solo guitar and he then was doing all those harmonic things that he does so well and I was just blown away.  Later when Jimmy introduced me to him Russell said “Henry, I’ve been listening to your records for years.  We have become good friends.  I especially love listening to Russell playing solo guitar.

John Pizzarelli 

I love Russell.  He is a great student of the guitar.  He’s got all the qualities of Joe Pass and Bucky (Pizzarelli).  What he is doing here is so great.  He really fills the holes well.  He gets such a nice sound on the guitar.  It is hard to accompany singers on the guitar. 

As a solo artist, he plays some really great songs including some newer ones.  I heard him play “How Deep Is Your Love” (Bee Gees) that just blew me away. 

Mark Whitfield 

(On the bridge of “You Are the Sunshine of My Life” Russell is comping with a hard swing)  I love to hear guitar players play rhythm.  Freddie Green with the Basie Band was one of the first guitar players I ever heard…. Russell was in New York with Jimmy Smith on the night my son was born.  The nurses kicked me out of the hospital because visiting hours were over, but I was way too excited to go home, so I took my guitar and went to see them.  I got to the club about 1 o’clock and Jimmy kept both of us on the stage until about 4:30 am.  Russell is great.  He is a throwback to what we were just talking about.  He is someone who is completely versed in the total possibilities of playing jazz guitar.  He is a guitar player’s guitar player.  

Anthony Wilson 

Swinging, it is so swinging.  Russell is a very funny guy.  He is the same on the guitar.  When he starts to play it is always surprising.   I have the highest respect for Russell.  I also love hearing him play solo guitar.  His command of the instrument is so beautiful. He has different approaches to touching the instrument that I find so interesting.  Here is an ensemble his playing is more pointed and percussive. But when he plays solo he has a very beautiful softness to what he does.  I think he is one of the best solo guitar players today.   

When he plays choruses with somebody he is beautiful and elegant.  He has a great vocabulary, great time, and a great sense of swing.  It is so important to have a strong sense of time and the placement of the note.  

Russell’s Jazz Guitar Today interview one year ago.

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