On August 23, 2024, Russell Malone died aged 60. He was musician (guitar), recorded and performed with Jimmy Smith, Harry Connick Jr., Diana Krall, Benny Green, Ron Carter, Roy Hargrove, Dianne Reeves, Kenny Barron, Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Jack McDuff, Mulgrew Miller, Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson, Hank Jones, Bobby Hutcherson, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Sonny Rollins, Houston Person, David Sanborn, Mose Allison, Kenny Barron, Gary Bartz, Stefano Di Battista, David Benoit, Don Braden, Gary Burton, Regina Carter, Cyrus Chestnut, The Chieftains, Jimmy Cobb, Natalie Cole, Will Downing, Jon Faddis, Macy Gray, Dave Grusin, Vincent Herring, Shirley Horn, Freddie Hubbard, Etta Jones, B. B. King, Gladys Knight, Jeff Lorber, Christian McBride, Bill Mobley, New York Voices, Johnny O’Neal, Kenny Rankin, Tony Reedus, Stephen Scott, Janis Siegel, Terell Stafford, Joss Stone, Billy Taylor, Steve Turre and Gerald Wilson. As leader, Malone released 15 albums.
Tag Archives: Billy Taylor
Nancy Wilson: Turned To Blue

On August 22, 2006, “MCG Jazz” label released “Turned to Blue”, the fifty-second and final Nancy Wilson studio album. It was recorded in 2006, at “Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild” in Pittsburgh, “Conway Studios” in Los Angeles, “Somy Music Studios” in New York City, “Audible Images Recording” in Port Matilda, and was produced by Marty Ashby and Jay Ashby. At the 49th “Annual Grammy Awards”, “Turned to Blue” won “Best Jazz Vocal Album” award.
Personnel:
- Nancy Wilson – vocal
- Marty Ashby – acoustic guitar, guitar, arrangements, executive producer
- Alon Yavnai – piano
- Liew Matthews – piano
- Billy Taylor – piano
- Vito DiSalvo – accordion
- John Clayton – bass
- Kip Reed – bass
- Nilson Matta – bass
- Rufus Reid – bass
- Jamey Haddad – drums, percussion
- Roy McCurdy – drums
- Terry Clarke – drums
- Winard Harper – drums
- Portihno (Telmo Porto) – drums, percussion
- Andy Narrel – steelplan
- Mike Tomaro – alto saxophone, clarinet
- Tia Fuller – alto saxophone
- Andy Snitzer – tenor saxophone
- Eric DeFade – tenor saxophone
- Jim German – baritone saxophone
- Jack Schantz – trumpet
- Jim Hynes – trumpet
- Steve Hawk – trumpet
- Sean Jones – trumpet
- Jay Ashby – trombone, percussion, marimba, backing vocals, arrangements, mixing, mastering
- Bob Matchett – trombone
- Ed Kocher – trombone
- Michael Davis – trombone
- Daglas Purviance – bass trombone
- Hubert Laws – flute
- Jennifer Cunner – flute
- Jeremy Black – violin
- Kate Black – violin
- Kate Hatmaker – violin
- Stephanie Tertick – violin
- Rosemary Harris – viola
- Mikhail Istomin – cello
- Dr. John H. Wilson – arrangements
- Liew Matthews – arrangements
- Jay Dudt – recording, mixing, mastering
- Pablo Array – recording
- Seth Waldmann – recording
- Todd Whitelock – recording
- David Stoller – recording
- Jeff O.Brien Myers – cover art, layout, design
- Leroy Hamilton – photography (Candid)
- Charles Bush – photography (Nancy Wilson)
- Renée Govanucci – associate producer
Track listing:
- This is All I Ask – Gordon Jenkins
- Take Love Easy – Duke Ellington, John LaTouche
- Turned to Blue – Jay Ashby, Maya Angelou
- Knitting Class – K. Lawrence Dunham, Bruce Rohde
- Be My Love – Nicholas Brodszky, Sammy Cahn
- Taking a Chance on Love – Vernon Duke, Ted Fetter, John LaTouche
- Just Once – Barry Man, Cynthia Weil
- These Golden Years – D. Channsin Berry, John Proulx
- I Don’t remember Ever Growing Up – Artie Butler
- Old Folks – Dedette Lee Hill, Wilard Robinson
- I’ll Be Seeing You – Sammy Fain, Irving Khal
Quincy Jones: This Is How I Feel About Jazz

In February 1957, “ABC-Paramount” label released “This Is How I Feel About Jazz”, the second Quincy Jones album. It was recorded September 1956 – January 1957, at “Ballone Recording Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Creed Taylor.
Personnel:
- Quincy Jones – conductor, arrangements
- Gene Quill – alto saxophone
- Phil Woods – alto saxophone
- Zoot Sims, Lucky Thompson – tenor saxophone
- Lucky Thompson, Bunny Bardach – tenor saxophone
- Bill Perkins, Buddy Collette, Walter Benton – tenor saxophone
- Pepper Adams – baritone sax
- Jack Nimitz – baritone sax
- Art Farmer, Bernie Glow, Ernie Royal, Joe Wilder – trumpet
- Jimmy Cleveland, Urbie Green, Frank Rehak – trombone
- Jerome Richardson – flute, tenor saxophone
- Herbie Mann – flute
- Hank Jones – piano
- Billy Taylor – piano
- Carl Perkins – piano
- Charles Mingus – bass
- Paul Chambers – bass
- Leroy Vinnegar – bass
- Shelly Manne – drums
- Charlie Persip – drums
- Milt Jackson – vibes
Track listing:
- Walkin’ – Richard Carpenter
- Stockholm Sweetnin’ – Quincy Jones
- Evening in Paris – Quincy Jones
- Sermonette – Julian Adderley, Jon Hendricks
- A Sleepin’ Bee – Harold Arlen, Truman Capote
- Boo’s Blues – Quincy Jones
Elvis Jones: Puttin’ It Together

In September 1968, “Blue Note” label released “Puttin’ It Together”, the tenth Elvis Jones album. It was recorded in April 1968, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, in New Jersey, and was produced by Duke Pearson.
Personnel:
- Elvin Jones – drums
- Joe Farrell – soprano and tenor saxophone, flute, piccolo
- Jimmy Garrison – bass
- Rudy Van Gelder – recording
- Forlenza Venosa Associates – design
- Francis Wolff – photography
- Billy Taylor – liner notes
Track listing:
- Reza – Ruy Guerra, Edu Lobo
- Sweet Little Maia – Jimmy Garrison
- Keiko’s Birthday March – Elvin Jones
- Village Greene – Billy Greene
- Jay-Ree – Joe Farrell
- For Heaven’s Sake – Elise Bretton, Sherman Edwards, Donald Meyer
- Ginger Bread Boy – Jimmy Heath
Stanley Turrentine: Easy Walker

In February 1968, “Blue Note” label released “Easy Walker”, the 17th Stanley Turrentine album. It was recorded in July 1966 and July 1967, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Francis Wolff and Alfred Lion.
Personnel:
- Stanley Turrentine – tenor saxophone
- McCoy Tyner – piano, electric piano
- Bob Cranshaw – bass
- Gene Taylor – bass
- Mickey Roker – drums
- Ray Lucas – drums
- Billy Cobham – drums
Track listing:
- Meat Wave – Hank Johnson
- They All Say I’m the Biggest Fool – Buddy Johnson
- Yours Is My Heart Alone – Franz Lehár
- Easy Walker – Billy Taylor
- What the World Needs Now – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
- Alone Together – Howard Dietz, Arthur Schwartz
Ahmad Jamal: The Bright, the Blue and the Beautiful

In May 1968, “Cadet” label released “The Bright, the Blue and the Beautiful”, the 24th Ahmad Jamal album. It was recorded in February 1968, at “Fine Recording Studios” in New York, and was produced by Richard Evans.
Personnel:
- Ahmad Jamal – piano
- Jamil Sulieman – bass
- Frank Gant – drums
- The Howard Roberts Choir – vocals
- Hale Smith – conductor
Track listing:
- Wild Is the Wind – Dimitri Tiomkin, Ned Washington
- Ballad for Beverly – Bob Williams
- Of Bass I Love – Ahmad Jamal, Jamil Sulieman
- Yesterdays – Otto Harbach, Jerome Kern
- I Wish I Knew (How It Would Feel to Be Free) – Billy Taylor, Dick Dallas
- At Long Last Love – Cole Porter
- Never Let Me Go – Jay Livingston, Ray Evans
- Gypsies in the Wind – Bob Williams
- Lover Man – Jimmy Davis, Ram Ramirez, James Sherman
- By Myself – Howard Dietz, Arthur Schwartz
Nina Simone: Silk & Soul

In October 1967, “RCA Victor” label released “Silk & Soul”, the thirteenth Nina Simone studio album. It was recorded in 1967, at “RCA Studio B” in New York City, and was produced by Danny Davis.
Personnel:
- Nina Simone – vocals, piano
- Eric Gale – guitar
- Rudy Stevenson – guitar
- Ernie Hayes – piano, harpsichord
- Gene Taylor – bass
- Bernard Purdie – drums
- Sammy Lowe – arrangements, conductor
- Ray Hall – engineer
Track listing:
- It Be’s That Way Sometime – Sam Waymon
- The Look of Love – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
- Go to Hell – Morris Balley Jr.
- Love o’ Love – Andy Stroud
- Cherish – Terry Kirkman
- I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free – Billy Taylor
- Turn Me On – John D. Loudermilk
- Turning Point – Martha Holmes
- Some Say – Charles Reuben
- Consummation – Nina Simone
Ramsey Lewis And Billy Taylor: We Meet Again

On October 16, 1989, “Columbia” label released “We Meet Again”, the 62nd Ramsey Lewis album. It was recorded 1988 – 1989, at “Master Sound Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Gary Schultz and Ramsey Lewis.
Personnel:
- Ramsey Lewis – piano
- Billy Taylor – piano
Track listing:
- I’m Just a Lucky So and So – Duke Ellington
- Django – John Lewis
- ‘Cookin’ at the Continental – Horace Silver
- Somewhere Soon – Billy Taylor
- We Meet Again – Chick Corea
- Quiet Now – Denny Zeitlin
- Soul Sister – Billy Taylor
- Waltz for Debby – Bill Evans
- Nigerian Marketplace – Oscar Peterson
Lucky Peterson: You Can Always Turn Around
On September 28, 2010, “Dreyfus” label released “You Can Always Turn Around”, the 20th Lucky Peterson album. It was recorded in March 2010, in Woodstock, NY, and was produced by Doug Yoel, Francis Dreyfus, and Lucky Peterson. “You Can Always Turn Around” won “Grand Prix du Disque” (Best Blues Album in 2010 in France).
Personnel:
- Lucky Peterson– vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, national duolian, piano, arranger
- Larry Campbell – acoustic and pedal steel guitar, mandolin, national duolian, arranger
- Scott Petito – bass, octave mandolin, shaker, arrangements, engineer, mixing, mastering
- Gary Burke – drums, arrangements
- Tamara Peterson – vocals
- Doug Yoel- arrangements, cover photo, liner notes
- Beth Reineke – engineer assistant, inside photo
- Valérie Lefebvre – package coordinator
- Djémila Boukhlifa – package coordinator
Track listing:
- I Believe I’ll Dust My Broom – Robert Johnson
- I’m New Here – Bill Callahan
- Statesboro Blues – Blind Willie McTell
- Trouble – Ray LaMontagne
- Trampled Rose – Tom Waits, Katleen Brennan
- Atonement – Lucinda Williams
- Why Are People Like That – Bobby Charles
- Four Little Boys – Lucky Peterson, James Peterson
- Death Don’t Have No Mercy – Reverend Gary Davis
- I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free- Billy Taylor, Dick Dallas
- Think – Curtis Mayfield
Christian McBride: Conversations with Christian
On November 8, 2011, “Mack Avenue” label released “Conversations with Christian”, the tenth Christian McBride album. It was recorded in 2011, at “Avatar Studios”, and “MSR Studios” in New York City, “Chicago Recording Company” in Chicago, “LeGonks” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Christian McBride.
Personnel:
- Christian McBride – upright bass
- Angélique Kidjo – vocal
- Dee Dee Bridgewater – vocal
- Sting – vocal
- Gina Gershon – vocal
- Russell Malone – guitar
- Hank Jones – piano
- Chick Corea – piano
- Billy Taylor – piano
- George Duke – keyboards
- Regina Carter – violin
- Ron Blake – saxophone
- Roy Hargrove – trumpet
- Mat Lejeune – engineer
- Fernando Lodeiro – engineer assistant
- Randall Kennedy – creative director
- Anna Webber – photography
- André Kimo – associate producer
Track listing:
- Afrika – Jean Hébrail, Angélique Kidjo
- Fat Bach and Greens – Johann Sebastian Bach, traditional
- Consider Me Gone – Sting
- Guajeo y Tumbao – Eddie Palmieri
- Baubles, Bangles and Beads – George Forrest, Robert Wright
- Spiritual – Billy Taylor
- It’s Your Thing – O’Kelly Isley, Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley
- Alone Together – Howard Dietz, Arthur Schwartz
- McDukey Blues – Christian McBride
- Tango Improvisation #1 – Chick Corea, Christian McBride
- Sister Rosa – Christian McBride
- Shake ‘n Blake – Christian McBride
- Chitlins and Gefiltefish – Christian McBride

