Ever since Joe Chambers made his recording debut on Freddie Hubbard's classic LP, "Breaking Point" he's remained a nearly peerless jazz figure in terms of consummate musicianship. His career throughout the 1960s established Chambers as both a noteworthy hard-bop and avant-garde jazz drummer and as an intriguing composer, particularly through his partnership with vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson. Chambers released his debut LP, "The Almoravid" in 1974 for Muse Records. After recording several other releases for the Denon, Candid and Blue Note labels. On "Landscapes" reflects all of his well-honed talents as superb multi-instrumentalist, composer and bandleader.

With this, his third outing as a leader on HighNote guitar master Russell Malone returns with his talented quartet, featuring the potent pianism of Rick Germanson, the solid underpinnings of Luke Sellick on bass, and drummer-extraordinaire Willie Jones III. Malone possesses phenomenal technique, a warm luminous tone, an innate sense of swing, and his distinctive chording. The set consists of a wide range of songs including funk, ballads, uptempo hard bop performances and even a pop tune and a TV theme. Malone varies the instrumental textures and tone colors throughout to reveal his considerable inventive melodic art. This latest recording is further proof that Russell Malone is one of the top guitarists in jazz, here backed by his superb trio of masterful musicians.