Russell Malone refuses to be pigeonholed into one category as a player, composer, or arranger on this outstanding CD, the first release led by a guitarist for the Maxjazz label. With a powerful group supporting, including pianist
Martin Bejerano, bassist
Tassili Bond, and drummer
E.J. Strickland,
Malone is clearly at the top of his game. "Blues for Mulgrew" is built from a fairly simple blues riff, though it explodes into a complex post-bop vehicle with
Bejerano either following
Malone or playing in unison with him in a piece that almost borders on avant-garde. Equally explosive is his well-named "Sugar Buzz," a rapid-fire piece that adds guest
Joe Locke on vibes. The strutting "Mandela," which almost seems to chant the word "freedom," features the soulful alto sax of
Gary Bartz.
Malone's lyrical treatment of
Billy Strayhorn's "Something to Live For" is a gem, as are his solo interpretations of the overlooked chestnut "Remind Me" and a sparse but compelling "You've Got a Friend."
The Carpenters' huge hit "We've Only Just Begun" can come off hackneyed in the wrong hands, but
Malone's arrangement picks up the tempo and frees the rhythm section from just plodding along behind him, while he adds a humorous lick from
Burt Bacharach's "Say a Little Prayer." An added bonus is a live performance of
Malone's "Mugshot," accessible only through a CD-ROM, though the poor lighting gives the video portion a homemade rather than a professional look. ~ Ken Dryden