He doesn’t release a lot of albums, so when Russell Malone does, you better grab it and hold on. He’s one of the best pickers around, usually touring with Ron Carter lately. This time around he’s with Rick Germanson/p, Gerald Cannon/b and Willie Jones III/dr and the material ranges from hip boogaloos like “Soul Leo” to graceful and romantic ballads like the title track. Germanson gets a chance to stretch out on the hip “Amsterdam After Dark” in which he even throws in a Horace Silver quote, and flows with the ivories on the bopping “Suite Sioux.” Malone mixes chiming chords on “The Elder” with lithe picking and note bending on the soulfully strutting “Ellie’s Love Theme.” His lyrical touch is felt on when he goes solo on “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing” which mixes gospel and hope, while he shows his alacrity on the nimble “Mirrors.” This is how a guitar is supposed to sound, my friends. Listen and imbibe deeply.
High Note Records