Family Statement on the Passing of
Russell Malone


It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved father, Russell Malone, a Grammy Award-winning jazz guitarist whose music touched the lives of many around the world. He suffered a massive heart attack on August 23rd, 2024 following an extensive battle with end stage kidney failure.

Russell’s journey began in 1963 in Albany, Georgia, where he first discovered his passion for music as a child playing in church. His extraordinary talent and dedication to his craft led him to start playing in local clubs at the age of 16, allowing him to truly develop and sharpen his gift as a jazz artist, and would ultimately lead him to share his talent with audiences across the globe. Over the course of his nearly 40 year career, he collaborated with a diverse range of artists, including Harry Connick Jr., Branford Marsalis, Diana Krall, Ron Carter, George Benson, Sonny Rollins, Aretha Franklin, Earth, Wind, and Fire, George Duke, Lizzo, Christina Aguilera, and a multitude of others.

Throughout his remarkable career, Russell released 16 albums, leaving an indelible mark on the world of jazz and beyond. His performances brought joy and inspiration to audiences across the globe, and his legacy will continue to resonate in the hearts of all who were fortunate enough to experience his music. In addition to performing and recording, Russell also found his second calling as a music professor. At the time of his passing, he was a part of the music faculty at William Paterson University, located in Wayne, New Jersey. 

Even after falling ill, Russell refused to ever stop creating music and performing for the fans whom he adored. As his health took a sharp decline in recent years, he continued to record, perform, and teach, because music was what he loved most. Our father always put others before himself and made a point to present his best self through his music, because he understood that was his everlasting legacy.

Russell departed this life in Tokyo, Japan after doing what he loved most—sharing his music with the world. While we are heartbroken and truly devastated by his loss, we find comfort in knowing that his spirit lives on through his music and the countless lives he touched.

We sincerely appreciate and are deeply touched by the outpour of love, support, thoughts, and prayers shown to our family during this difficult time as we mourn the loss of our father, brother, son, mentor, and friend.

With humble gratitude,

Darius L. Malone and Marla V. Malone
The Malone/Jones Family
 John Beasley Appointed President of ISJAC Joining the Board of Directors Mike Conrad (VP), Erica von Kleist (VP), Patrice Rushen, Billy Childs, and Rio Sakairi  Furthering the Impact of Jazz Composers and Arrangers on Music

The International Society of Jazz Arrangers & Composers (ISJAC) announces new leadership to further the impact of jazz composers and arrangers on music. John Beasley was appointed President, succeeding co-founder Chuck Owen, whose vision and guidance have been instrumental in shaping the organization since it’s founding.

 “I am fortunate to receive the baton from Owen, who has left a solid and well-marked footprint, says John Beasley. “I’m most excited to bond and exchange ideas with our current and new members across the globe to help each other further our personal and collective artistic growth, which ultimately furthers the art of arranging and composing. From joining and participating in ISJAC’s online workshops and attending the recent conference in Nashville, I’ve seen firsthand the benefits of cross-pollination with members. Whether it’s pushing our personal musical aesthetics and boundaries, learning new tools, or discussing the progress of our art, the experience has been invaluable.” 

2024 APPOINTMENTS:
President: John Beasley
Vice President of Membership: Mike Conrad
Vice President of Development: Erica von Kleist
Board of Directors: Billy Childs, Patrice Rushen, Rio Sakairi
Note: Chuck Owen remains on the Board of Directors as Immediate Past President. 

ABOUT ISJAC LEADERSHIP:John Beasley is an original artist with a highly expressive and personal style. He began his career in his 20s backing jazz icons Miles Davis and Freddie Hubbard. Since then, he has become a multifaceted musician as a pianist, composer, and arranger. 

He has 20 solo recordings and worked on 100s of film, TV, commercial projects and recordings. As a music director, Beasley has led tours for Steely Dan, Queen Latifah, A.R. Rahman, Chucho Valdés and has directed several TV singing competitions. He serves as Music Director for the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz leading global gala concerts for UNESCO’s annual International Jazz Day. His direction of the 2016 concert “Jazz at the White House” earned him an Emmy nomination. Beasley has received two GRAMMY awards, 12 nominations and two Latin Grammy nominations. 

Over the past five years, he has arranged, composed and conducted various projects for big bands and symphonic orchestras, including producing award-winning recordings. Beasley brings a wealth of experience working with global artists and music from India to Africa and brings a fresh perspective to ISJAC. 

Billy Childs is a celebrated pianist and composer, known for his creative compositions and Grammy-winning recordings. 

Mike Conrad is a renowned jazz composer, arranger, pianist, and educator, recognized for his dynamic approach to music and his dedication to fostering new talent in the jazz community. 

Patrice Rushen, a multi-talented musician and composer, has made significant contributions to the music industry as both a performer and an educator. 

Rio Sakairi is the Artistic Director at The Jazz Gallery, where she has curated numerous groundbreaking performances and supported emerging artists. 

Erica von Kleist is a distinguished flutist, saxophonist, and composer, known for her contributions to both the jazz and entrepreneurial music worlds. 

ABOUT ISJAC:
The International Society of Jazz Composers’ & Arrangers (ISJAC) was formally incorporated as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in 2016 responding to a perceived need to address issues unique to the global community of jazz composers & arrangers while providing members with targeted resources and new opportunities. 

ISJAC’s Mission:

1. To unite and serve the international community of jazz arrangers and composers.

2. To advance the understanding and appreciation of jazz composition.

3. To stimulate the creation, performance, and dissemination of new works and research.

In just eight short years, ISJAC has produced four International Jazz Composers’ Symposiums showcasing the work of over 300 composers, grown to over 2,000 individual members and over 30 consortium institutional members, provided nearly $40,000 in commission or prize funding to over 30 composers through its annual awards programs, honored the legacy of 18 of the most influential jazz composers and arrangers through ISJAC’s Hall of Fame, and archived more than 100 guest blog posts and video interviews.

John Mayall The Godfather of British Blues, Dies at 90


Photo by Cristina Arrigoni
LOS ANGELES, CA – Very few in the music world achieve the distinction of being titled by fans around the globe. Certain artists who made an indelible mark on the music of their day and beyond have been bestowed a title that forever identifies them without mention of their name. The King, The Queen of Soul, The Boss, The Hardest Working Man in Show Business…. The Godfather of British Blues.
 
On July 22, 2024, John Mayall passed away peacefully in his home, in the company of his family, at the age of 90. He is survived by a devoted family, including his six children, Gaz, Jason, Red, Ben, Zak and Samson, his sister Caroline Marston, seven grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and his ex-wives/mothers of his children, Pamela Wynn and Maggie Mayall Brown. He will also be lovingly remembered by his many close friends, loyal staff – namely his devoted secretary Jane Ebdon, dozens of bandmates, and scores of fans who have been touched and inspired by his amazing career. 
 
John was born to Beryl and Murray Mayall on November 29th, 1933, in Macclesfield, England, and spent a great deal of his childhood amongst the backdrop of World War II. John shared his father’s passion for playing music and collecting records, and taught himself to play guitar, piano and harmonica while listening to those records by American jazz and blues artists.
 
After performing his National Service in Korea, graduating from Manchester College of Art and working for some time as an art designer, John turned his sites to his true passion: playing the blues. He moved to London and embarked on a juggernaut of a musical career. His band, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, boasted a legendary lineup of musicians who played with him on hit records and epic live performances – including guitarists Eric Clapton, Peter Green, and Mick Taylor; bassists Jack Bruce and John McVie; drummers Mick Fleetwood and Aynsley Dunbar; more recently guitarists Walter Trout and Coco Montoya; and his final lineup that stuck with him until the end, Jay Davenport, Greg Rzab and Carolyn Wonderland – with many graduating to Rock and Roll stardom in their own right. As a staple on the London music scene during the 60’s, John’s influence extended beyond his own band members though. The effect of his efforts to spread the power of the blues can be heard throughout the music of the “British Invasion”. With a rugged individuality and distinctive voice and style, Mayall continually experimented with and stretched the blues, exerting a major influence on not just the genre itself, but rock music on the whole.
 
John moved to the United States in 1969, settling in Laurel Canyon, California to continue his musical journey with American musicians. A blues, rock and jazz musician, songwriter and producer, singer, guitarist, harmonica player, and keyboardist, he has given us nearly seven decades of ever-evolving musical excellence, always changing the music by changing the lineups and encouraging the players to express themselves, while staying true to blues foundations. His discography boasts 36 studio albums and 34 live recordings. His career has influenced both the music and culture of both home countries, and that influence has spread throughout the globe. His career has been recognized by two Grammy Award nominations and inductions to the Blues Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2005.
 
John Mayall retired from touring and recording in April of 2022 due to failing health and age. He rested peacefully in his California home until he finally succumbed to natural causes and illnesses of age. His was truly a special life.
 
John’s family has decided to have a small, private service, but his interment in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery will afford an opportunity for fans and admirers to pay their respects for years and generations to come.