Russell Malone’s ‘Playground’ has a range of musical styles, from Strayhorn to the Carpenters. On ‘Something to Live For,’ Malone and his band play it tenderly and gracefully. It is a slow, sweeping arc of delicate passion. And then there is that ubiquitous, clinging and rather loathsome 1970’s pop hit. ‘We’ve Only Just Begun’ hardly offers any new interpretation. It remains peppy, smiley-faced, brady-bunched. Sounds like Marcia Brady gone to seed.
There is some grit and grime and grease on ‘Mandela,’ but that is generated from Gary Bartz on alto saxophone. Not Russell Malone. Carole King’s ‘You’ve Got a Friend’ is a masterpiece and there is no denying that Malone playing solo translates it sensitively and bittersweetly. It is done quite well. But, Malone’s overall playing is hardly challenging. It’s what you’d expect and nothing more. His guitar sound is reminiscent of George Benson from some of his 1970’s albums. Maybe that’s why Carole King and Karen Carpenter appear. But that’s me. I like an edge and I like a challenge.