DESCRIPTION:
"Mr. Malone... hasn't tried to reinvent the guitar: in his standard, soft tone you hear Wes Montgomery, George Benson, some B.B.King. But as a performer he maintains a high rate of astonishment, and with traditional materials, his ability to get inside swing rhythms or bruisingly play a narrative blues, causing great tension and then easing off it."  New York Times

"Malone's technical ability has few peers. Blinding speed aside, he's capable of the kind of chordal harmonics first introduced by the late Canadian guitarist Lenny Breau, but he's taken the technique one step further."  All About Jazz

An internationally renowned artist, Russell Malone is one of today's most commanding and versatile guitarists! He has performed and recorded with some of the highest profile artists including Diana Krall, Gladys Knight, Aretha Franklin, B.B. King, Natalie Cole, David Sanborn, Shirley Horn, Christina Aguilera, Harry Connick, Jr., Ron Carter, and Sonny Rollins.

Malone was named Guitarist of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association in 2011 and he played on three Grammy-nominated albums with vocalist and pianist Diana Krall.  Malone was also a featured performer in Robert Altman's 1996 film "Kansas City."

Born in Albany, Georgia, Russell Malone received his first guitar at the age of four and grew up playing a variety of music. A self-taught player, Malone progressed well enough to land a gig with master organist Jimmy Smith at the age of 25. He went on to back Harry Connick, Jr. from 1990-1994, and spent four years during the late 90s touring internationally with Diana Krall, receiving critical acclaim in his role as Diana's right hand both in concert and on her recordings. Russell is currently working with some of the top names in jazz such as Ron Carter, the late great Mulgrew Miller, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, Benny Green, Christian McBride, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Jack McDuff, Clarence Carter, Little Anthony, Freddie Cole, Kenny Barron, Roy Hargrove, Cyrus Chestnut and Patti Austin.