Luis Russell
Luis Russell led one of the great early big bands, an orchestra that during 1929-1931 could hold its own with nearly all of its competitors. Unfortunately, his period in the spotlight was fairly brief and, ironically, Russell fell into obscurity just as the big band era really took hold. Russell studied guitar, violin, and piano in his native Panama. After winning 3,000 dollars in a lottery, he moved with his mother and sister to the United States where he began to make a living as a pianist in New Orleans. In 1925 Russell moved to Chicago to join Doc Cook's Orchestra and then became the pianist in King Oliver's band. He was with Oliver when the cornetist relocated to New York before leading his own band at the Nest Club in 1927. Russell had recorded seven songs at two sessions as a leader in 1926 with his Hot Six and Heebie Jeebie Stompers. By 1929 his ten-piece band (which included several former Oliver sidemen) boasted four major soloists in trumpeter Red Allen, trombonist J.C. Higginbotham, altoist Charlie Holmes, and clarinetist Albert Nicholas; the other trumpeter, Bill Coleman, ended up leaving because of the lack of solo space. In addition, Russell, a decent but not particularly distinctive pianist, was part of one of the top rhythm sections of the era along with guitarist Will Johnson, the powerful bassist Pops Foster, and drummer Paul Barbarin. During the next couple of years Luis Russell's band recorded a couple dozen sides that (thanks to the leader's arrangements) combined the solos and drive of New Orleans jazz with the riffs and ensembles of swing; some of these performances are now considered classics. The band also backed Louis Armstrong on a few of his early orchestra recordings. But after a few commercial sides in 1931, Luis Russell only had one more opportunity to record his band (a so-so session in 1934) before Louis Armstrong took it over altogether in 1935. For eight years, the nucleus of Russell's orchestra primarily functioned as background for the great trumpeter/vocalist, a role that robbed it of its personality and significance. From 1943-1948, Russell led a new band that played the Savoy and made a few obscure recordings for Apollo before quietly breaking up. He spent his last 15 years, before dying of cancer in 1963, largely outside of music, running at first a candy shop and then a toy store. Fortunately most of Russell's early recordings have been made available on CD by European labels.
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
Discografia
21 álbum(ns) • Ordenado por Mais vendidos
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The Luis Russell Story 1929-30
Jazz - Lançado por CoolNote em 1 de jan. de 2000
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At The Swing Cats Ball
Jazz - Lançado por Dot Time Legends em 3 de mar. de 2023
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Complete Jazz Series 1926 - 1929
Jazz - Lançado por Complete Jazz Series em 8 de jun. de 2009
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The Best of Luis Russell & His Orchestra
Jazz - Lançado por Saland Publishing em 26 de ago. de 2008
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Giving You Jazz! (Remastered)
Jazz - Lançado por Master Tape Records em 27 de ago. de 2021
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Call Of The Freaks (Original Recordings 1925 - 1929)
Pop - Lançado por HotJazz em 31 de mar. de 2017
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Complete Jazz Series 1945 - 1946
Jazz - Lançado por Complete Jazz Series em 8 de jun. de 2009
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All Time Jazz: Luis Russell
Jazz - Lançado por Bella Musica Edition em 13 de jun. de 2014
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Dolly
Pop - Lançado por ITSrecords em 1 de set. de 2018
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Dirty
Pop - Lançado por ITSrecords em 19 de ago. de 2018
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Luis Russell & Henry “Red” Allen 1929
Henry ?Red? Allen, Luis Russell
Jazz - Lançado por Documents em 1 de set. de 2009
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The Ultimate Jazz Archive 3 (3 Of 4)
Jazz - Lançado por Carinco AG em 16 de fev. de 2007
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Complete Jazz Series 1930 - 1934
Jazz - Lançado por Complete Jazz Series em 8 de jun. de 2009
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Luis Russell & Henry “Red” Allen 1929-30
Luis Russell, Henry ?Red? Allen
Jazz - Lançado por Documents em 1 de set. de 2009
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Sweet Memory
Jazz - Lançado por Redwood Records em 28 de abr. de 2014
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Luis Russell & Henry “Red” Allen & The Blues Singers
Henry ?Red? Allen, the Blues Singers, Luis Russell
Jazz - Lançado por Documents em 1 de set. de 2009
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I've Been a Fool Again
Jazz - Lançado por Redwood Records em 14 de abr. de 2014
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The Very Thought of You
Jazz - Lançado por Redwood Records em 25 de abr. de 2014
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Luis Russell 1926-29
Jazz - Lançado por Documents em 1 de set. de 2009
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Luis Russell: Essential 10
Traditional Jazz & New Orleans - Lançado por Tsk Music em 27 de jun. de 2011
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The Sound Of… (Original Jazz Sound)
Traditional Jazz & New Orleans - Lançado por Original Jazz Sound em 20 de dez. de 2010
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