Bill Frisell & Russell Malone

Grammy Award winner Bill Frisell is one of the most sought-after guitarists in contemporary music. His signature sound has found voice in collaborations with artists as diverse as Dave Holland, Bono, Elvis Costello, Daniel Lanois, Ginger Baker, Jim Hall, Norah Jones and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. His multifaceted compositions mix rock and country with jazz and blues in a way that defies categorization. “It’s hard to find a more fruitful meditation on American music than in the compositions of guitarist Bill Frisell… Unlike other musicians, who tend to duck passion, Frisell plays up the pleasure in the music and also takes on another often-avoided subject, tenderness,” says the New York Times. Frisell continues to explore musical possibilities through his own compositions and time-honoured jazz and folk material with an ever-evolving constellation of extraordinary musicians.

Joining Bill for this rare and exciting collaboration is virtuoso guitarist Russell Malone. Arguably best known for his tenure with Diana Krall, Malone has also worked with Jimmy Smith, Harry Connick Jr., Wynton Marsalis, Kenny Barron and Aretha Franklin. Along the way, he has won international acclaim for a sound that combines the bluesy soul of Grant Green and Kenny Burrell with the relentless attack of Django Reinhardt and Pat Martino. From early album releases like Black Butterfly and Sweet Georgia Peach up to his current CD, Live at the Jazz Standard, his blues-tinged guitar swings with infectious energy. There are hard-hitting melodies, irresistible grooves, and some gorgeous ballads to confirm that Malone is one of the best and most versatile jazz guitarists of his generation.