Smitty: Right on, man. Now, you had a special relationship with Milt Jackson. We were just talking about that great tune, “Heartstrings.”
RM: I got to hang out with him. We got to be really good friends and I even got to play with him a couple of times. He was just such a beautiful human being and such a great musician. Every time he played he told the truth. There was no B.S. in anything that he did.
Smitty: Oh, man, absolutely. And what an influence to have and someone to hang out with than someone like Milt Jackson because I remember listening to Milt Jackson growing up and sometimes when I mention that to people they’ll say “How old are you?” They think I’m older than what I’m talking about, but that kind of music, you don’t forget that, even as a young man.
RM: Yeah. But I’ve been fortunate. I’ve hung out with a lot of those older musicians like Benny Carter, Ron Carter, Ray Brown, and DR. Billy Taylor, Frank Wess, so I know what time it is.
Smitty: Yeah, man.
RM: So no one can come to me with any kind of….in other words, I can’t be B.S.’d.
Smitty: Absolutely.
RM: Because I know what the deal is and I know these guys have given so much to the world and they’ve given their lives to this music, so it’s up to young musicians like myself to keep the standard high.
Smitty: Yes. It means a lot to hear you say that and to back it up the way you have with your career, including this latest project.
RM: I’m not saying that I’m supposed to try to rehash anything that they did, because you can never do that.
Smitty: No, not at all.
RM: But I should be allowed to come to my own conclusions as to how the music should be played and to play it on a high level. Do not forget the values that they established.
Smitty: Yes, absolutely. Very well put, my friend. How many guitars did you use for this project?
RM: Just that one. Just the one.
Smitty: Just that one. Wow.
RM: And that’s all I used.
Smitty: Well, that was some monster playing to do that live, and I tell ya, that audience got a real treat to hear that live, that’s for sure.
RM: Yeah, well, it’s very nice to be on the bandstand giving the music to the people and then getting something back from them.
Smitty: True.
RM: Because they really gave us a lot of love.
Smitty: Yes. And speaking of love, the folks at the Jazz Standard, what a great group of people there, man. The entire staff.
RM: And you’ve been there, I assume.
Smitty: A beautiful place, a lot of great people.
RM: And good food.
Smitty: Oh yes. What a treat to record there. You couldn’t have selected a better place.
RM: I love that place.
Smitty: Yeah. So, now, are you touring with this record now?
RM: We’ve been on the road. We were in Europe a couple of months ago.
Smitty: Very cool.
RM: And we’re going back over to Europe in January.
Smitty: How was the reaction of the Europeans with this record?
RM: Listen, man, we’ve gotten good feedback from everyone.
Smitty: I truly believe that, my friend.
RM: So Europe, here in the States, I’m glad that people like it.
Smitty: Absolutely. Russell, this is an international project and right for any occasion.
