A lot of guitarists come in and out of LA for gig. One of the few guys I’ll make a point to see no matter what is Russell Malone. As the title of this latest album with Rick Germanson/p, Luke Sellick/b and Willie Jones III/dr states, Malone’s all about melody (as well as swing), even in the most adventurous of solos. Here, the songs are fairly concise, with a slinky bop take of Freddie Hubbard’s “One The Real Side” and a nimble “Jive Hoot” pulsating like a V8 engine. His art of using space is like Monet on “Haunted Heart” and the delicate “Message to Jim Hall.” Jones supplies velvet brushes on the cozy read of the soul hit “Saving All My Love For You” while he does a nice groove with Sellick on the hip “Nice Lady.” Malone does a couple solo arias as well, making silence a sound on “When A Man Loves A Woman” and being as delicate as handling a newborn on “He’s Gone Away.” You could take years studying this session, and keep learning things.
High Note Records