Guitarist and bandleader Russell Malone died Aug. 23, while on tour in Japan, after battling end-stage kidney failure. He was 60. Bassist Ron Carter, who was on tour at the time with Malone and pianist Donald Vega, as The Golden Striker Trio, issued a statement saying: “Mr. Malone suffered a heart attack upon completion of our performance at Blue Note Tokyo. Donald Vega and I are completing this tour as a duo in respect and honor of the memory of Mr. Malone.”
Known for his brilliant technique and lyrical phrasing, Malone extended the tradition set by Wes Montgomery, George Benson, and Kenny Burrell.
Tributes to Malone flooded social media as news of his passing went out across North America. He was praised not only for his instrumental prowess and accomplishments but for both his personal and musical generosity and also his singular sense of humor.
Born in Albany, Georgia, Malone first explored guitar at age 4 and was playing in church two years later. Largely self-taught, he moved to Houston after graduating from high school and played with organist Al Rylander. He moved to Atlanta in 1985 before relocating to New York, where he played with organ legend Jimmy Smith from 1988 to 1990.
Malone’s profile increased when he joined Harry Connick Jr.’s band in 1990. He played with the then-rapidly rising star until 1994 and made a deep impact on the pianist/vocalist/actor. “From the moment I met Russell, well over 30 years ago, I knew my life was about to change for the better,” Connick wrote, in an email to DownBeat. “Russell’s musical brilliance, his encyclopedic knowledge of American music and deeply soulful, skillful artistic personality were unmatched. But what I’ll miss the most are his giant, sensitive, goofy heart and fierce sense of humor.”
While playing with Connick, Malone recorded his self-titled debut for Columbia. It featured bass great Milt Hinton, who praised Malone in the liner notes. “I’ve had the opportunity to record with many of the guitar greats from the jazz world — Charlie Christian, George Barnes, Kenny Burrell, Herb Ellis, Barry Galbraith, Barney Kessel, Mundell Lowe, Bucky Pizzarelli and Wes Montgomery, to name just a few. Russell Malone extends the musical traditions begun by these and many other guitarists,” Hinton wrote. “His amazing dexterity is evident throughout the album. His decisions to use an electric or acoustic instrument on a particular piece are impeccable. They show me that he truly appreciates the beauty of his instrument at the same time he is aware of its limitations.”
Malone then teamed up with another high-profile vocalist/pianist, Diana Krall, playing in her trio and quartet from 1994 to 1998. Collaborations with Carter and also pianist Benny Green and vocalist Dianne Reeves followed, as did tours and albums as a leader.
“I don’t think that there is a song that Russell didn’t know the lyrics to,” said Reeves, in a phone interview. “And when you’re singing with someone who knows the lyrics to the song, they understand the interpretation. They understand you know what the spirit of the song is about.”
Reeves first brought Malone aboard to record her 2001 album The Calling: Celebrating Sarah Vaughan and then 2008’s When You Know, which were both released on Blue Note Records. She later formed her instrument Strings Attached trio with Malone and Romero Lubambo, her regular guitarist.
He contributed to projects by the likes of Natalie Cole, Rickie Lee Jones and Joss Stone as well as ones by B.B. King, Ray Brown and Marian McPartland and many others.
A blossoming educator, Malone had served on the jazz faculty of William Paterson University since the 2021–’22 academic year. It was the only teaching position the guitarist ever held.
Memorial Service Announced
A Celebration of Life for the Grammy award-winner will be held Nov. 9, 2024 -- the day after what would have been his 61st birthday. The selected venue is Evangelical Faith Ministries, formerly known as The First Albany Deliverance Cathedral, 1506 South Slappey Blvd., Albany, Georgia, the church where Malone was a member and where he was first exposed to the guitar.
The service is open to the public.
