Benny Green & Russell Malone - Jazz at the Bistro (2003)

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Benny Green & Russell Malone - Jazz at the Bistro (2003)

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Between them, the young duo of Benny Green and Russell Malone has a world of experience, having played with such jazz masters as Ray Brown, Harry Connick Jr., Betty Carter, Diana Krall, and Branford Marsalis. This live date captures the terrific twosome delivering a tasty palette of blues, standards, and ballads. Malone's guitar lines are impressive and encyclopedic, ranging from Wes Montgomery's ringing double octaves to Joe Pass's tender timbres. Green's pianisms imbue everything he plays with a haze of blues. They both treat chestnuts like Cannonball Adderley's "Wabash," Billy Strayhorn's "Intimacy of the Blues," and John Coltrane's "Moment's Notice/Lazy Bird" with dazzling and deft improvisations. Here, in front of an appreciative audience, these musicians beautifully highlight the difference between just making a record and actually playing music. –Eugene Holley Jr.

Recorded over two nights in the terrific St. Louis night club Jazz at the Bistro, Benny Green and Russell Malone make the most of the opportunity. Although they had previously worked together, this is their first duo release. Although Green gets top billing on the CD, this is a true partnership, with both men soloing brilliantly, as well as providing outstanding supporting lines as accompanists. Their wide ranging program extends from old chestnuts ("Love Letters") to gems by Thelonious Monk (a lyrical "Ask Me Now"), Benny Carter (his timeless ballad "When Lights are Low"), Billy Taylor (a gently striding take of "A Bientot"), John Coltrane (a lively medley of "Moment's Notice" and "Lazy Bird"), Billy Strayhorn (two separate interpretations of his "The Intimacy of the Blues") and a delightful romp through Cannonball Adderley's "Wabash." What is most surprising is the imaginative treatment of two pop songs in medley form; the often nauseating "Killing Me Softly" is in good hands as a solo vehicle for Green, while Malone takes over for the Bee Gees' "How Deep is Your Love?," which isn't a jazz standard by any means, but the guitarist makes it work with a thoughtful solo improvisation. Each musician is also featured playing an original composition as a solo feature. Live jazz doesn't get much better than this disc. (allmusic)