Russell Malone - Live At Jazz Standards Vol. 01 & Vol. 02 (2006/2007)

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Russell Malone - Live At Jazz Standards Vol. 01 & Vol. 02 (2006/2007)

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Russell Malone's second CD for Maxjazz Live at Jazz Standard, Vol. 1 has a bit of a harder edge then Playground, his first session for the label. Well accompanied by pianist Martin Bejerano, bassist Tassili Bond and drummer Jonathan Blake on this live performances at the Jazz Standard, the guitarist focuses mostly on his challenging originals. "I Saw You Do It" is a marvelous example, an intricate, boundary stretching affair that is essentially a blues intermingled with post-bop and a touch of dissonance, while the breezy "Flirt" is more easygoing, built from a call and response pair of riffs that are developed into a full-fledged work. Malone's choice of Frank Rosolino's "Blue Daniel" may turn a few heads as he slowly transforms it from a jazz waltz setting into a cooking hard bop vehicle. He finally shares his lyrical side with a beautiful interpretation of Milt Jackson's "Heartstrings" that perfectly conveys its bittersweet message. Highly recommended.

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Russell Malone - Live At Jazz Standards Vol. 01 & Vol. 02 (2006/2007)

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This is the continuing “sequel” to Live At Jazz Standard Volume One (2006); The CD release party and special performances were held at Jazz At The Bistro in St. Louis, Missouri, July 20-21, 2007; Four of the seven tracks are Russell Malone originals, with the exception of “Don't Point That Over Here” which is credited with being “composed” by not only Russell, but also his quartet members of Martin Bejerano, Tassili Bond, and Johnathan Blake; “Mugshot” was first recorded as the opening track on Sweet Georgia Peach (1998); “How About Me?” is an Irving Berlin tune that Russell recorded for Heartstrings (2001); “Playground” and “Sugar Buzz” are both on Playground (2004).