RUSSELL MALONE, 1963-2024
Russell Malone — the great jazz guitarist and William Paterson University music professor who died of a heart attack on Aug. 23, at the age of 60 — had been scheduled to headline the Metuchen lineup of the Middlesex County Jazz Festival, on Sept. 28. That portion of the festival will now be devoted to a tribute to him, featuring members of his quartet (pianist Rick Germanson, bassist Vince Du Pont, drummer Neal Smith) with Mark Whitfield on guitar.
After Malone died, Whitfield, a longtime friend, posted on his own Facebook page, “I only have 3 words to say about Russell Malone. I LOVE YOU!!!!!”
Malone grew up in Georgia, moved to Jersey City in 1994, and was living in Englewood at the time of his death. He began teaching at William Paterson University in 2021.
Harry Connick Jr., who featured Malone in his band in the ’90s, wrote in an email to Downbeat: “From the moment I met Russell, well over 30 years ago, I knew my life was about to change for the better. Russell’s musical brilliance, his encyclopedic knowledge of American music and deeply soulful, skillful artistic personality were unmatched. But what I’ll miss the most are his giant, sensitive, goofy heart and fierce sense of humor.”
“He was an absolute natural musician,” pianist Bill Charlap told the New York Times. “He had perfect time and rhythm, and you heard the whole history of jazz guitar in the way he played.”
Here is the festival’s schedule. All shows are free. For information, visit middlesexcountyjazzfestival.org.
MARK WHITFIELD
Lake Papaianni Park, Edison, Sept. 25
5:45 p.m.: JP Stevens High School Dance Troupe
6 p.m.: Off the Hook Quartet
6:30 p.m.: Carrie Jackson Quartet
7:30 p.m.: Akiko Tsuruga Quartet
Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center, Sept. 26
6:30 p.m.: Carteret High School Jazz Band, Carteret High School Varsity Vocals
7 p.m.: Nat Adderley Jr.
Livingston Avenue in front of New Brunswick Performing Arts Center, Sept. 28
1 p.m.: New Brunswick Jazz Project Brass
2:15 p.m.: Winard Harper & Jeli Posse
4 p.m.: Buster Williams Quartet
Metuchen Plaza at New and Pearl streets, Sept. 28
6 p.m.: Prāna Arts
6:30 p.m.: Metuchen High School Jazz Ensemble and Metuchen High School Chamber Orchestra
7 p.m.: Mariel Bildsten Septet
8 p.m.: “Remembering Russell”: Russell Malone Quartet with Mark Whitfield
Parker Press Park, Woodbridge, Sept. 29
3 p.m.: Woodbridge High School Jazz Choir
4 p.m.: Brandon Woody’s Upendo
5:15 p.m.: Stephane Wrembel’s Django New Orleans
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