Triple Play MaxJazz ***

Malone is the accomplished guitarist who was part of singer Diana Krall's band on her first visit here years ago, so it's a surprise that this is only his first guitar trio recording. As might be expected, Triple Playis a beautifully crafted mainstream album, with bassist David Wong and drummer Montez Coleman gelling in a tight and cohesive group. The repertoire, including some lovely originals by Malone, Ron Carter, Quincy Jones, John Hicks and the late Oliver Nelson, a couple of pop songs and Cole Porter's Do I Love You, is far from an amiable canter over familiar ground. They groove solidly on Nelson's blues Butch and Butch and Carter's Tail Feathers, and Malone turns in a couple of stellar performances, contrasting single note lines and chordal passages, on Jones's The Witching Hourand the lilting 3/4 of Dave Grusin's The Kind of Girl She Is. See maxjazz.com