George Russell

George Russell's third release as a leader combines two adventurous sessions. The first features two pianists, Bill Evans and Paul Bley, and a large ensemble including Ernie Royal, Dave Baker, Walt Levinsky, Barry Galbraith, Milt Hinton, and Don Lamond, among others. The three-part suite "Chromatic Universe" is an ambitious work which mixes free improvisation with written passages that have not only stood the test of time but still sound very fresh. "The Lydiot" focuses on the soloists, while incorporating elements from "Chromatic Universe" and other Russell compositions. The second session adds trumpeter Marky Markowitz, valve trombonist Bob Brookmeyer, alto saxophonist Hal McKusick, and drummer Charlie Persip to the earlier group…

George Russell was one of the most forward-thinking composers and arrangers on the jazz scene during the 1950s, but his work was generally more appreciated by musicians than the jazz-buying public. New York, New York represents one of many high points in his career. He assembled an all-star orchestra, including pianist Bill Evans (a frequent participant on Russell's recordings), Art Farmer, Bob Brookmeyer, John Coltrane, and Milt Hinton, among others. In Rodgers & Hart's "Manhattan," Russell has the soloists playing over the orchestra's vamp, while he also creates an imaginative "East Side Medley" combining the standards "Autumn in New York" and "How About You." His original material is just as striking as his arrangements, while vocalist Jon Hendricks serves as narrator between orchestra segments.

George Russell - The Complete Albums Collection 1956-1964 (2015) {5CDs Set Enlightenment EN5CD9047}
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© 1956-64, 2015 Enlightenment | EN5CD9047
Jazz / Post Bop / Third Stream / Experimental Big Band/ Progressive Jazz / Modern Arrangement / Piano

5CD SET OF THIS JAZZ MAVERICKS GOLDEN ERA INCLUDES ALL ALBUMS RUSSELL MADE AS BANDLEADER BETWEEN 56 & 64. George Allen Russell was an American jazz pianist, composer, arranger and academic who was among the first musicians to contribute significantly to the theory of harmony based on jazz rather than European music, as expounded in his book Lydian Chromatic Concept of Tonal Organization .

George Russell - The Complete Remastered Recordings on Black Saint and Soul Note (2010) {9CD CAM Jazz BXS 1005}
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© 2010 CAM Jazz / Black Saint / Soul Note | BXS 1005
Jazz / Post Bop / Avant-Garde Jazz / Experimental / Piano

THE COMPLETE REMASTERED RECORDINGS ON BLACK SAINT & SOUL NOTE is a monographic box-set collection aimed at recounting the most beautiful chapters that revolutionised the history of jazz. This new series was launched in March 2010 with the simultaneous release of four box-sets, including albums by some of the artists who participated in the success of the outstanding labels. A philological work, beginning with the original recordings on multi-track master tapes, patiently integrally remastered paying strict attention to the sound quality.

The Esoteric Circle - George Russell Presents The Esoteric Circle (1969) {Flying Dutchman-BGP CDBGPM824 rel 2014}
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© 1969, 2014 Flying Dutchman / BGP | CDBGPM824
Jazz / Post Bop / Contemporary Jazz

Groundbreaking sounds from the Norwegian scene of the late 60s – an album that's got George Russell's name on the cover, but which actually features brilliant performances from a quartet who'd go onto become huge names in the ECM scene of the 70s! Yet the sound here is quite different than ECM, too – very full and free – with vibrant work that really illuminates the younger years of these musicians – a sublime quartet that includes Jan Garbarek on tenor and soprano sax, Terje Rypdal on guitar, Arild Anderson on bass, and Jon Cristensen on drums! Some tunes are quite free, while others have a spiritual sense of soul that's equally grat – and throughout the record, all players express themselves in an unfettered way.

George Russell Sextet - Ezz-thetics (1961) {2007 Riverside} [Keepnews Collection Complete Series] (Item #12of27)
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© 1961, 2007 Concord / Riverside | 0888072301887
Jazz / Post Bop / Third Stream

Remastered in 24-bit from the original master tapes. Part of our Keepnews Collection, which spotlights classic albums originally produced by the legendary and arguably the most respected of all jazz producers, Orrin Keepnews. George Russell is listed in the Encyclopedia of Jazz as "composer, piano, educator" and all of these are accurate descriptions of this dynamic musical revolutionary.

George Russell - Stratusphunk + The Stratus Seekers (1960, 1962) {2012 Japan SHM-CD Jazzplus Series UCCU-3175} (featuring Don Ellis)
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© 1960, 1962, 2012 Riverside / Universal Japan | UCCU-3175 | 24-bit remaster
Jazz / Post Bop / Experimental Jazz / Third Stream

Features the high-fidelity SHM-CD format (compatible with standard CD players). Brand new digital remaster. A pair of modern moments from George Russell – back to back on a single CD! Stratusphunk is not "phunk", in the way you might think of "funk" – but an album that sets a whole new standard for modern jazz in the 60s – thanks to the fresh ideas of George Russell! Russell's in his best modal mode here – and there's a highly rhythmic construction to most tunes – layers that build beautifully, and which have a sharper edge than some of George's earlier work in the 50s – a balance that's better heard than described by our words, and which is completely compelling right from the start.

George Russell Sextet - Things New, Unissued Concerts 1960 & 1964 (2007) {Rare Live RLR 88630} (ft. Don Ellis)
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© 1960, 1964, 2007 RLR Records / Rare Live Rec. | RLR 88630
Jazz / Post Bop / Experimental Small Band

Tracks from three recently discovered 1960s concerts, by the celebrated arranger, pianist & experimental theorist, George Russell, released here for the very first time - and from the same period as his famous Ezz-Thetics album (1961) with Eric Dolphy. The first, in Lennox Massachusetts, includes Al Kiger, Dave Baker, Chuck Israels & Dave Young; the 2nd, from the 1964 Newport Jazz Festival features Don Ellis, John Gilmore, Steve Swallow, Pete La Roca & Sheila Jordan. The third, a single track, is from a 1964 European date, with Thad Jones, Joe Farrell, Al Heath & Garnett Brown. Included are new versions of the Russell classics: Stratusphunk and The Outer View.

George Russell - Jazz In The Space Age (1960) {Decca–GRP GRD-826 rel 1998} (featuring Bill Evans)
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© 1960, 1998 Decca / GRP / Universal | GRD-826
Jazz / Post Bop / Modal Jazz

George Russell's third release as a leader combines two adventurous sessions. The first features two pianists, Bill Evans and Paul Bley, and a large ensemble including Ernie Royal, Dave Baker, Walt Levinsky, Barry Galbraith, Milt Hinton, and Don Lamond, among others. The three-part suite "Chromatic Universe" is an ambitious work which mixes free improvisation with written passages that have not only stood the test of time but still sound very fresh. "The Lydiot" focuses on the soloists, while incorporating elements from "Chromatic Universe" and other Russell compositions.