Guitarist Russell Malone worked with Jimmy Smith, Harry Connick, Jr., Diana Krall, Benny Green and many others during his career. He first picked up a toy guitar when he was four years old and went on to become a leading jazz guitarist. Russell Malone was born on November 8, 1963 in Albany, Georgia.

Malone was mostly self-taught and remembered being inspired by seeing a televised performance by George Benson when he was young. After he first gained wide notice while playing with organist Jimmy Smith in 1988 Malone spent the early 1990s playing with Harry Connick, Jr. That three-year partnership ended when he joined the Diana Krall Trio in 1995 and was part of the group that produced three Grammy-nominated albums, one of which, “When I Look in Your Eyes,” won a Grammy. Malone followed that up by appearing with pianist Benny Green on a series of records in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Russel Malone released 15 albums as a leader and appeared as a sideman with David Sanborn, Houston Person, Ray Brown, Natalie Cole, Sonny Rollins, Diane Reeves and The Chieftains. He often appeared in trio and quartet settings. He passed away unexpectedly in 2023 while on tour in Japan.

Here is a link to Russel Malone playing a Juan Tizol classic:

"CARAVAN"