RUSSELL MALONE
Genres: Hard Bop, Swing • United States

Russell Malone (November 8, 1963 – August 23, 2024) was an American jazz guitarist. He began working with Jimmy Smith in 1988 and went on to work with Harry Connick Jr. and Diana Krall throughout the 1990s.    Malone was born in Albany, Georgia, United States on November 8, 1963. He began playing at the age of four with a toy guitar his mother bought him. He was influenced by B. B. King and The Dixie Hummingbirds. A significant experience was when he was twelve and saw George Benson perform on television with Benny Goodman. He was mostly self-taught. Starting in 1988, he spent two years with Jimmy Smith, then three with Harry Connick Jr. In 1995, he became the guitarist for the Diana Krall Trio,  participating in three Grammy-nominated albums, including When I Look in Your Eyes, which won the award for Best Vocal Jazz Performance. Malone was read more...