Cyrus Chestnut

HighNote welcomes Russell Malone, one of the most gifted guitar players to emerge in recent years, to its roster. Malone seems comfortable in a variety of settings, performing with such diverse artists as Diana Krall, Freddie Cole, Mulgrew Miller, Kenny Barron, Roy Hargrove, Cyrus Chestnut and Patti Austin. Malone was also a featured performer in Robert Altman's 1996 film "Kansas City." From his first recordings in 1992 to his HighNote debut Russell Malone has proven himself to be the consummate musician capable of both swinging hard and caressing a ballad like few guitarists today can.

Ben Williams, winner of the 2009 Thelonious Monk Institute International Jazz Competition, releases his 2nd album, Coming of Age, building upon his musical experiences over the last several years. Since then, Ben has played and toured with a long list of jazz musicians: Wynton Marsalis, Herbie Hancock, Terence Blanchard, Christian McBride Big Band, Nicholas Payton, Paquito D'Rivera, Cyrus Chestnut, Benny Golson, George Duke, Eric Reed, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Roy Hargrove, and Mulgrew Miller and many others. Coming of Age features covers of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" & Lianne La Havas' "Lost & Found" and includes special guests: Goapele, vocals on Voice of Freedom (for Mandela), Christian Scott (trumpet), Stefon Harris (vibraphonist) & emcee W. Ellington Felton.

Drummer CARL ALLEN and bassist RODNEY WHITAKER - masters of tone and tempo - are accomplished musicians, respected educators and music visionaries. With combined credits of nearly 200 recordings as sidemen and nine CDs as leaders, Get Ready features this dynamic duo in a superb collaboration with pianist Cyrus Chestnut, guitarist Rodney Jones, organist Doresy "Rob" Robinson, and saxophonist Steve Wilson. Showcasing original material, in addition to stirring renditions of Motown and contemporary gospel-associated compositions, Get Ready is music with the heart of New York, the soul of Detroit and a sound all its own.

Bud Shank Quartet Featuring Claude Williamson is an album by Bud Shank recorded in late 1956 for the Pacific Jazz label.
Bud Shank began his career pigeonholed as a cool schooler, but those who listened to the altoist progress over the long haul knew that he became one of the hottest, most original players of the immediate post-Parker generation. Lumped in with the limpid-toned West Coast crowd in the '50s, Shank never ceased to evolve; in his later years, he had more in common with Jackie McLean or Phil Woods than with Paul Desmond or Lee Konitz…