Luis Russell

Luis Carl Russell (born August 6, 1902 on the island of Careening Cay near Bocas del Toro , Panama ; † December 11, 1963 , New York City ) was an American jazz musician (piano, arrangement, composition) who not only worked as a band -Leader of New Orleans Jazz , but emerged as the leader of one of the first big bands of the swing era.

Live and act

Russell has Afro-Caribbean roots. Born in Panama to a music teacher, he learned violin, guitar, trombone and piano before starting to work as a silent film pianist and pianist in a casino in Colón in 1917 . When he won $ 3,000 in a lottery in 1919, he moved to New Orleans with his mother and sister . He took piano lessons from Steve Lewis à la New Orleans Jazz and played in Albert Nicholas' band . In 1924 he moved to Chicago , where he played with Doc Cook in his "Dreamland Orchestra" and then with King Oliver . In 1926 he recorded with his "Hot Six" (with Barney Bigard , Kid Ory , Johnny St. Cyr ) and his "Heebie Jeebie Stompers" (with Bigard, St. Cyr ).

Russell went to New York with Oliver in 1927 , but then founded his own band with some of Oliver's musicians at the end of the year. At times Barney Bigard, Pops Foster , Omer Simeon , Henry Red Allen , Vic Dickenson , Paul Barbarin , Teddy Hill , JC Higginbotham , Albert Nicholas, Dicky Wells and William Thornton Blue played there . In New York they were one of the most popular bands, for performances and recording sessions with z. B. Red Allen , Jelly Roll Morton and Louis Armstrong , who made them his backup tape in 1929 (recordings at Okeh 1929/1930). The recordings of this big band under its own name from 1929 are considered one of the earliest examples of swing music. In September 1934, Russell had his only chart success in the Billboard Top 30 when his version of Jerome Kern's classic " Ol 'Man River " reached 19th place for a week for Perfect .

From 1935 to 1943 Russell and his musicians were again the backup band of Louis Armstrong (Russell remained musical director). She then played again under Russell's name at the Savoy Ballroom and Apollo Theaters in Harlem and Atlantic City . In 1946 he had a hit in the “Race Records” charts with “The Very Thought of You” ; In 1948 Russell retired (except for occasional gigs), opened a shop for sweets - later one for toys - and worked alongside as a music teacher and then as a chauffeur. On a tour to Panama in 1959 he played the classical piano repertoire. He died of cancer in 1963.

Russell was married to singer and bassist Carline Ray since 1956 ; their daughter Catherine Russell is internationally known as a professional singer.

Web links

• Luis Russell at Allmusic (English)
• Luis Russell at Redhotjazz
• Luis Russell Orchestra at Redhotjazz
• Luis Russell at Discogs (English)