A highly esteemed guitarist with a clean attack and fluid, lyrical style, Russell Malone was known for his swinging, straight-ahead jazz, weaving in elements of blues, gospel, and R&B. Building upon the legacy of guitarists like Wes Montgomery and George Benson, Malone gained attention in the '80s, playing with Jimmy Smith, and went on to make vital contributions to albums by stars like Harry Connick, Jr. and Diana Krall. He released his debut solo album in 1992 and continued to produce acclaimed works, like 1998's Sweet Georgia Peach, 2000's Look Who's Here, and 2010's Triple...