Being of the same generation, Russell Malone and Benny Green often visit each other to exchange ideas. This cooperation started with the album Kaleidoscope with a.o. saxophonist Staley Turrentine and bassist Ron Carter. A few years later they joined their efforts with bassist Christian McBride, in whose company they recorded the glowing These Are Soulful Days. Pianist Benny Green used to accompany Betty Carter and played with that breeding ground of young talent, Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, where he was praised for his funky playing (with rhythms comparable to Horace Silver). Later Green performed with trumpeter Freddie Hubbard with whom he recorded three albums. Russell Malone, following Wes Montgomery’s and other leading jazz guitarist footsteps, is one the guitar pioneers of modern jazz. As a sideman he paid his dues in the bands of Diana Krall, Jimmy Smith and in the orchestra of Harry Connick Jr.
