About
Trumpeter Russ Johnson is a recent Midwest transplant after spending 23 years as an important member of New York City’s jazz community. He has 7 recordings as a leader or co-leader and performed on more than 75 recordings as a sideman. Russ has worked alongside many of the legendary figures in jazz including Lee Konitz, Steve Swallow, Bill Frisell, and Joe Lovano. In addition, Russ has recorded and/or
performed with a long list of the most prominent musicians currently on the international jazz scene, including Myra Melford, Ken Vandermark, and Tony Malaby. Russ has performed in more than 40 countries across the globe.
The Russ Johnson Quartet is his latest project & features 3 Chicago musicians (Jason Stein – bass clarinet; Anton Hatwich – bass; and Tim Daisy – drums) with international acclaim. This group recently performed at the Umbrella Festival in Chicago in November of 2013, and the 2014 Chicago Jazz Festival in Millennium Park. Their new recording “Meeting Point” was released in May of 2014 on Relay Recordings. “Meeting Point” received 4 ½ stars in the May issue of Down Beat magazine & has been listed among the “Best CD’s of 2014” in the January 2015 issue of Down Beat. Magnet Magazine recently placed “Meeting Point” on its “Top 10 CD’s of 2014” in the jazz/improvisation category.
October of 2014 saw the release of “Still Out to Lunch,” on the German label Enja. The group performs the music of Eric Dolphy, and recently headlined “Edge Fest” in Ann Arbor Michigan and has a January 2015
performance scheduled at NYC’s “Winter Jazz Fest.”
Hi, Russ, I have been doing a jazz radio program on WDIY, an NPR affiliate serving the Lehigh Valley in eastern PA, for 20 years and am always looking for some new material and/or artists that I’ve never got “on the air” before. We don’t have a program director telling us what to play, so can put on what we choose, which is good. I noticed a review of your recording, “Meeting Point”, and wondered the best way to get a copy to use on my show, “Jazz Junction”. Thanks for your time and help spreading the word. Sincerely, Rob Reagan
Hello Rob,
Please send me your address & I’ll send you a copy of “Meeting Point” & “Still Out to Lunch.”
Best,
Russ
Hello Rob,
I am trying to get my hands on the scores for Out to Lunch. I have Hat and Beard from a transcription I did. But, I would like to get the rest. My group is considering playing the entire album for a performance.
Thanks,
Thom
1st of all….my name is Russ…see…my name is at the top of the blog!
2nd of all Thom…how about introducing yourself…then possibly commenting on my music. (if you’ve listened?)
Thirdly Thom, I see you attended North Texas State University…what would one of your esteemed professors there have suggested for you to gain insight into Dolphy’s music? I’m guessing something along the lines of…”do the transcription yourself.” (wow…I just spent 2 minutes researching you..perhaps you could have extended the same courtesy?) Perhaps you’d like to invite me to Marshall University to perform this music with your group…if so, I’d be more than happy to discuss my fee. If you’d like me to hand over COUNTLESS HOURS OF WORK, at least you could greet me with my correct name, say something nice about the music (whether you mean it or not!) and start a dialogue…not start with “HAND OVER ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK FOR FREE!” “I’D LIKE TO CHECK IT OUT & PERFORM THE MUSIC…BUT I’D RATHER NOT DO THE WORK!” Please try again,
Respectfully,
Russ (Rob)
Hey, Russ.
It’s been a while…
How do I get in touch with you? Is there an email I can reach you with?
You can reach my email contact through the faculty page at Marlboro College faculty page. (I don’t want to post a link, because it would mark the comment as spam)
Looking forward!
Matan Rubinstein
russjohnsontpt@gmail.com