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Catherine Russell (singer)

January 01, 1970

This article is about the American singer. For other people named Catherine or Katherine Russell, see Katherine Russell.

Catherine Russell (born 1956)[1] is an American jazz and blues singer. She is best known for her 2016 album Harlem on My Mind.

Catherine Russell
Russell at the Detroit Jazz Fest in 2006
Background information
Also known asCat[1]
Born (1956-09-20) September 20, 1956 (age 67)
New York City, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • keyboards
  • guitar
  • percussion
Years active2006–present
LabelsHarmonia Mundi
Dot Time Records
Websitewww.catherinerussell.net

Biography edit

Early life edit

Her father was Luis Russell, a Panamanian-born "pianist and leader of one of the most impressive big bands on the early New York jazz scene after leading a group in New Orleans and moving to Chicago, where he worked with King Oliver, who gave Louis Armstrong his first big break."[1] He later became Louis Armstrong's long-time musical director.[2] Her mother, Carline Ray,[3] held degrees from both Juilliard and the Manhattan School of Music and performed with the International Sweethearts of Rhythm following World War II.[4] She later performed "with Doc Cheatham and Wynton Marsalis, among others."[2]

Russell's interest in music began as a child.[1] As a young girl, she was "steeped in early jazz—from '20s and '30s recordings by her father's orchestras to '40s and '50s R&B."[5] She was also enamored with country music—including the early George Jones, Patsy Cline, Hank Williams, and Merle Haggard—as she liked "anything that swings."[1]

Background vocalist edit

In the mid-1980s, she often visited a Manhattan club where guitarist Jimmy Vivino was the bandleader.[6] One evening she was invited to sing on stage with musician Donald Fagen of the band Steely Dan.[6] Soon afterwards, Russell was invited to tour with Fagen's "New York Rock and Soul Revue" in 1992. When Steely Dan reunited in 1993, Fagen invited her to join them, and she toured with them until 1996.[6] She spent "many years on the road with rock, blues, jazz, soul and gospel bands."[1] She preferred to tour with acoustic string bands as she did not have to compete with electric guitars.[1] She performed background vocals on the 1990 Madonna recording "Rescue Me".

From 2002-2004, Russell worked with David Bowie as a band member, providing backing vocals and featured contributions on guitar, keyboard and percussion for Bowie's Heathen Tour, A Reality Tour, and his late-2003 album Reality. Recalling these experiences, Russell remarked: "Working with David was a dream come true. I’d been a fan since 1971. He was such a gracious man, and musically generous. He brought out the best in me. In addition to background singing, he let me play several instruments: keyboards, percussion, guitar and mandolin. He allowed me to stretch beyond what I thought I was capable of. He was caring, funny and loved his family. I am blessed to have known him."[6]

Jazz career edit

When Bowie's touring career was suspended in 2004, Russell's business partner and later husband Paul Kahn suggested that she record a solo album.[6] However, Russell initially rejected the idea as she believed she already had "a nice career as a backup singer."[6] Nevertheless, she eventually consented to record song tracks at a friend's studio in Skokie, Illinois. Kahn then invited executives from a record company to hear Russell sing in New York, which led to a recording contract with Harmonia Mundi. The earlier tracks recorded in Illinois became her first album, Cat (2006).[6]

Russell soon experienced a "mid-career surge" in which she transitioned from an "in-demand, first-call backup singer to rock and pop stars" to become "the foremost vocal interpreter of vintage jazz and R&B songs."[6] Seven albums followed, about one every two years, supported by an extensive touring schedule in Asia, Australia, Europe and the United States. With her roots in jazz and the blues, Russell quickly became known in jazz circles and, by January 2014, was the second best-selling female artist on several jazz charts.

 
"Harlem on My Mind"
Sample of the 1933 song "Harlem on My Mind" as covered by Russell. The song first appeared in the musical revue As Thousands Cheer.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Her voice has been described as "reminiscent of many of the great jazz and blues singers. Her phrasing is impeccable and her delivery relaxed and effortless; it never seems as if she's 'trying.'"[2] The New York Times stated that her performances project "a strength, good humor and intelligence that engulf the room in a mood of bonhomie."[5] Her rendition of Irving Berlin's tune "Harlem on My Mind" was highly praised by the Jazz Times which declared that, "if there's a post-millennial answer to Dinah Washington, surely it's Catherine Russell: same remarkable vocal dexterity-blues shouter meets jazz stylist; same espresso-strength power; same immaculate clarity; same ability to shift seamlessly from sassy to torchy."[7]

Russell's cover of the 1920s song "Crazy Blues" was used in "The Emerald City" episode of the HBO drama Boardwalk Empire.[8] This song was included on a soundtrack recording[9] that won in 2012 for Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media at the 54th Grammy Awards.[10]

In 2019, Russell appeared as a character in the biographical feature film Bolden!, about early jazz performer Buddy Bolden. She performed the blues folk song "Make Me a Pallet on the Floor."[11] The same year, she released her seventh album, Alone Together, via Dot Time Records.[12]

In 2022, Catherine Russell released Send For Me, her eighth album as a leader, receiving rave reviews in national media outlets; The Wall Street Journal, Relix, No Depression, Pop Matters, JazzTimes, and others, while also performing a concert for NPR Tiny Desk (Home).

Awards edit

 
Russell in a 2009 performance

Discography edit

Albums edit

Soundtracks and compilations as featured artist edit

  • The New Jazz Divas: NPR Discover Songs (2010)
  • Walkin' & Swingin' (2011)
  • Boardwalk Empire, Vol. 1 (2011)
  • Kill Your Darlings (Original Soundtrack) (2013)
  • Bolden (Original Soundtrack) – Wynton Marsalis (2019)
  • Big Band Holidays II – Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis (2019)

As backing singer, musician or guest lead singer edit

Some of Russell's credits are as follows:[13]

References edit

Citations edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Hentoff & Porter 2010, p. 26.
  2. ^ a b c d Hogg 2008.
  3. ^ Yardley 2013.
  4. ^ Gross 2012.
  5. ^ a b Holden 2015.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i Morrison 2017.
  7. ^ a b Loudon 2016.
  8. ^ The Emerald City 2010.
  9. ^ Boardwalk Empire Soundtrack 2011.
  10. ^ Haury 2012.
  11. ^ Tarby 2019.
  12. ^ a b Sheridan 2019.
  13. ^ a b c d AllMusic.com.

Bibliography edit

  • "Catherine Russell - Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  • "Boardwalk Empire - Volume 1 Music From The HBO Original Series". CD Universe. September 13, 2011. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
  • "Boardwalk Empire - Season 1 Episode 10: Music". HBO. November 21, 2010.
  • Gross, Terry (May 28, 2012). "Catherine Russell: An In-Studio Fresh Air Concert". Fresh Air. NPR. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  • Haury, A.C. (February 15, 2012). . Yahoo TV. Archived from the original on November 4, 2013. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
  • Hentoff, Nat; Porter, Lewis (2010). At the Jazz Band Ball: Sixty Years on the Jazz Scene. University of California Press. p. 26. ISBN 978-0-520-26113-6.
  • Hogg, Karen (February 12, 2008). "CD/LP Review: Sentimental Streak". All About Jazz. Retrieved September 12, 2010.
  • Holden, Stephen (December 17, 2015). "Review: Catherine Russell Sings Still-Resonant Standards at Birdland". The New York Times. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  • Loudon, Christopher (October 17, 2016). "Catherine Russell: Harlem on My Mind". JazzTimes. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  • Morrison, Allen (January 4, 2017). "Q&A: Catherine Russell". JazzTimes. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  • Nastos, Michael G. "Catherine Russell - Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
  • Sheridan, Brian (February 28, 2019). "Catherine Russell is Jazz Royalty". The Syncopated Times. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  • Tarby, Russ (March 18, 2019). "Buddy Bolden Movie Hits Theaters in May". The Syncopated Times. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  • Yardley, William (July 28, 2013). "Carline Ray, an Enduring Pioneer Woman of Jazz, Dies at 88". The New York Times. Retrieved August 30, 2019.

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Catherine Russell.
  • Official website
  • Catherine Russell, NPR

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gi5ehMVsggI

January 01, 1970
catherine, russell, singer, this, article, about, american, singer, other, people, named, catherine, katherine, russell, katherine, russell, catherine, russell, born, 1956, american, jazz, blues, singer, best, known, 2016, album, harlem, mind, catherine, russe. This article is about the American singer For other people named Catherine or Katherine Russell see Katherine Russell Catherine Russell born 1956 1 is an American jazz and blues singer She is best known for her 2016 album Harlem on My Mind Catherine RussellRussell at the Detroit Jazz Fest in 2006Background informationAlso known asCat 1 Born 1956 09 20 September 20 1956 age 67 New York City U S GenresJazz blues rockOccupation s SingerInstrument s Vocals keyboards guitar percussionYears active2006 presentLabelsHarmonia MundiDot Time RecordsWebsitewww wbr catherinerussell wbr net Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Early life 1 2 Background vocalist 1 3 Jazz career 2 Awards 3 Discography 3 1 Albums 3 2 Soundtracks and compilations as featured artist 3 3 As backing singer musician or guest lead singer 4 References 4 1 Citations 4 2 Bibliography 5 External linksBiography editEarly life edit Her father was Luis Russell a Panamanian born pianist and leader of one of the most impressive big bands on the early New York jazz scene after leading a group in New Orleans and moving to Chicago where he worked with King Oliver who gave Louis Armstrong his first big break 1 He later became Louis Armstrong s long time musical director 2 Her mother Carline Ray 3 held degrees from both Juilliard and the Manhattan School of Music and performed with the International Sweethearts of Rhythm following World War II 4 She later performed with Doc Cheatham and Wynton Marsalis among others 2 Russell s interest in music began as a child 1 As a young girl she was steeped in early jazz from 20s and 30s recordings by her father s orchestras to 40s and 50s R amp B 5 She was also enamored with country music including the early George Jones Patsy Cline Hank Williams and Merle Haggard as she liked anything that swings 1 Background vocalist edit In the mid 1980s she often visited a Manhattan club where guitarist Jimmy Vivino was the bandleader 6 One evening she was invited to sing on stage with musician Donald Fagen of the band Steely Dan 6 Soon afterwards Russell was invited to tour with Fagen s New York Rock and Soul Revue in 1992 When Steely Dan reunited in 1993 Fagen invited her to join them and she toured with them until 1996 6 She spent many years on the road with rock blues jazz soul and gospel bands 1 She preferred to tour with acoustic string bands as she did not have to compete with electric guitars 1 She performed background vocals on the 1990 Madonna recording Rescue Me From 2002 2004 Russell worked with David Bowie as a band member providing backing vocals and featured contributions on guitar keyboard and percussion for Bowie s Heathen Tour A Reality Tour and his late 2003 album Reality Recalling these experiences Russell remarked Working with David was a dream come true I d been a fan since 1971 He was such a gracious man and musically generous He brought out the best in me In addition to background singing he let me play several instruments keyboards percussion guitar and mandolin He allowed me to stretch beyond what I thought I was capable of He was caring funny and loved his family I am blessed to have known him 6 Jazz career edit When Bowie s touring career was suspended in 2004 Russell s business partner and later husband Paul Kahn suggested that she record a solo album 6 However Russell initially rejected the idea as she believed she already had a nice career as a backup singer 6 Nevertheless she eventually consented to record song tracks at a friend s studio in Skokie Illinois Kahn then invited executives from a record company to hear Russell sing in New York which led to a recording contract with Harmonia Mundi The earlier tracks recorded in Illinois became her first album Cat 2006 6 Russell soon experienced a mid career surge in which she transitioned from an in demand first call backup singer to rock and pop stars to become the foremost vocal interpreter of vintage jazz and R amp B songs 6 Seven albums followed about one every two years supported by an extensive touring schedule in Asia Australia Europe and the United States With her roots in jazz and the blues Russell quickly became known in jazz circles and by January 2014 was the second best selling female artist on several jazz charts nbsp Harlem on My Mind source source Sample of the 1933 song Harlem on My Mind as covered by Russell The song first appeared in the musical revue As Thousands Cheer Problems playing this file See media help Her voice has been described as reminiscent of many of the great jazz and blues singers Her phrasing is impeccable and her delivery relaxed and effortless it never seems as if she s trying 2 The New York Times stated that her performances project a strength good humor and intelligence that engulf the room in a mood of bonhomie 5 Her rendition of Irving Berlin s tune Harlem on My Mind was highly praised by the Jazz Times which declared that if there s a post millennial answer to Dinah Washington surely it s Catherine Russell same remarkable vocal dexterity blues shouter meets jazz stylist same espresso strength power same immaculate clarity same ability to shift seamlessly from sassy to torchy 7 Russell s cover of the 1920s song Crazy Blues was used in The Emerald City episode of the HBO drama Boardwalk Empire 8 This song was included on a soundtrack recording 9 that won in 2012 for Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media at the 54th Grammy Awards 10 In 2019 Russell appeared as a character in the biographical feature film Bolden about early jazz performer Buddy Bolden She performed the blues folk song Make Me a Pallet on the Floor 11 The same year she released her seventh album Alone Together via Dot Time Records 12 In 2022 Catherine Russell released Send For Me her eighth album as a leader receiving rave reviews in national media outlets The Wall Street Journal Relix No Depression Pop Matters JazzTimes and others while also performing a concert for NPR Tiny Desk Home Awards edit nbsp Russell in a 2009 performance German Record Critics Award Sentimental Streak 2008 Prix Decouverte from Hot Club de France Sentimental Streak 2008 Grammy Award Best Compilation Soundtrack Visual Media Boardwalk Empire Vol 1 2011 Prix du Vocal Jazz from L Academie du Jazz Strictly Romancin 2012 Grand Prix from Hot Club de France Strictly Romancin 2012 NYC Nightlife Award Outstanding Jazz Performer 2012 Bistro Award for Outstanding Achievement Recording Strictly Romancin 2013 Fans Decision Jazz Award Hot House Magazine amp Metropolitan Room Female Vocalist 2016 The Louie from The Louis Armstrong House Museum Preserving and Promoting the Legacy of Louis Armstrong 2016 Grammy Nomination Best Jazz Vocal Album Harlem on My Mind 2017 Grammy Nomination Best Jazz Vocal Album Alone Together 2019 Discography editAlbums edit Cat 6 2006 Sentimental Streak 2 2008 Inside This Heart of Mine 13 2010 Strictly Romancin 13 2012 Bring It Back 13 2014 Harlem on My Mind 7 2016 Alone Together 12 2019 Send For Me 2022 Soundtracks and compilations as featured artist edit The New Jazz Divas NPR Discover Songs 2010 Walkin amp Swingin 2011 Boardwalk Empire Vol 1 2011 Kill Your Darlings Original Soundtrack 2013 Bolden Original Soundtrack Wynton Marsalis 2019 Big Band Holidays II Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis 2019 As backing singer musician or guest lead singer edit Some of Russell s credits are as follows 13 1990 The Immaculate Collection Madonna Background Vocals 1993 The Wheel Rosanne Cash Background Vocals 1993 The Rainy Season Marc Cohn Background Vocals 1993 Kamakiriad Donald Fagen Background Vocals 1995 Twelve Deadly Cyns and Then Some Cyndi Lauper Background Vocals 1995 Retrospective Rosanne Cash Background Vocals 1995 Relish Joan Osborne Background Vocals 1995 Alive in America Steely Dan Percussion Vocals Background Human Whistle 1997 Sisters of Avalon Cyndi Lauper Composer Mandolin Vocals 1997 Child Music for the Christmas Season Jane Siberry Vocals 1998 I m Still Here Damn It Sandra Bernhard Background Vocals 1998 Gloria Gloria Estefan Background Vocals 1998 Burning the Daze Marc Cohn Background Vocals 1999 Here Comes The Bride Spin Doctors Background Vocals 1999 A Crash Course in Roses Catie Curtis Gut String Guitar 2000 Live at Shanghai Jazz Earl May Quintet Introducing Catherine Russell Lead Vocals 2002 Sleepless Peter Wolf Background Vocals 2003 Rules of Travel Rosanne Cash Background Vocals 2003 Reality David Bowie Background Vocals 2003 Everything Must Go Steely Dan Background Vocals 2004 A Reality Tour David Bowie Vocals Mandolin Percussion Guitar Keyboards 2005 Black Yankee Rock Chocolate Genius Background Vocals 2006 Black Cadillac Rosanne Cash Background Vocals 2007 I Love You Diana Ross Background Vocals 2008 The Orchard Lizz Wright Background Vocals 2009 Electric Dirt Levon Helm Vocals Guest Artist 2010 Midnight Souvenirs Peter Wolf Background Vocals 2010 Feed My Soul The Holmes Brothers Vocals Background Cowbell Mandolin 2011 Matthew Morrison Matthew Morrison Choir Chorus 2011 Cicada Hazmat Modine Background Vocals 2012 Sunken Condos Donald Fagen Background Vocals 2013 13 Live Jimmy Vivino amp The Black Italians Vocals Lead amp Background 2013 Vocal Sides Carline Ray Producer Vocals Liner Notes 2014 The River amp the Thread Rosanne Cash Background Vocals 2014 Tales from the Realm of the Queen of Pentacles Suzanne Vega Background Vocals 2014 Great Big World Tony Trischka Lead Vocal 2015 Soul Time Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes Background Vocals 2015 Didn t It Rain Amy Helm Background Vocals 2015 This Is Where I Live William Bell Background Vocals 2016 A Cure for Loneliness Peter Wolf Background Vocals 2017 Duke And His Dames of Rhythm Duke Robillard Featured Lead Vocalist 2017 Long List of Priors Kenny White Background Vocals 2020 Trouble and Strife Joan Osborne Background Vocals 2020 World On The Ground Sarah Jarosz Harmony Vocals 2020 Shall We Hope Tony Trischka Featured Lead Vocalist 2021 The Nightfly Live Donald Fagen Steely Dan Vocals Percussion 2021 Northeast Corridor Steely Dan Live Vocals Percussion 2022 Good Time Music Steven Bernstein s MTO amp Catherine Russell lead vocals References editCitations edit a b c d e f g Hentoff amp Porter 2010 p 26 a b c d Hogg 2008 Yardley 2013 Gross 2012 a b Holden 2015 a b c d e f g h i Morrison 2017 a b Loudon 2016 The Emerald City 2010 Boardwalk Empire Soundtrack 2011 Haury 2012 Tarby 2019 a b Sheridan 2019 a b c d AllMusic com Bibliography edit Catherine Russell Credits AllMusic Retrieved August 30 2019 Boardwalk Empire Volume 1 Music From The HBO Original Series CD Universe September 13 2011 Retrieved July 28 2013 Boardwalk Empire Season 1 Episode 10 Music HBO November 21 2010 Gross Terry May 28 2012 Catherine Russell An In Studio Fresh Air Concert Fresh Air NPR Retrieved August 30 2019 Haury A C February 15 2012 Boardwalk Empire Wins at 54th Annual Grammy Awards Wins Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media Yahoo TV Archived from the original on November 4 2013 Retrieved July 28 2013 Hentoff Nat Porter Lewis 2010 At the Jazz Band Ball Sixty Years on the Jazz Scene University of California Press p 26 ISBN 978 0 520 26113 6 Hogg Karen February 12 2008 CD LP Review Sentimental Streak All About Jazz Retrieved September 12 2010 Holden Stephen December 17 2015 Review Catherine Russell Sings Still Resonant Standards at Birdland The New York Times Retrieved August 30 2019 Loudon Christopher October 17 2016 Catherine Russell Harlem on My Mind JazzTimes Retrieved August 30 2019 Morrison Allen January 4 2017 Q amp A Catherine Russell JazzTimes Retrieved August 30 2019 Nastos Michael G Catherine Russell Biography AllMusic Retrieved September 1 2019 Sheridan Brian February 28 2019 Catherine Russell is Jazz Royalty The Syncopated Times Retrieved March 3 2019 Tarby Russ March 18 2019 Buddy Bolden Movie Hits Theaters in May The Syncopated Times Retrieved March 27 2019 Yardley William July 28 2013 Carline Ray an Enduring Pioneer Woman of Jazz Dies at 88 The New York Times Retrieved August 30 2019 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Catherine Russell Official website Catherine Russell NPR https www youtube com watch v Gi5ehMVsggI Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Catherine Russell singer amp oldid 1217767525, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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