Catherine Russell

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

Early life

Her father, the late Luis Russell, was a Panamanian "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." He later became Louis Armstrong's long-time musical director. Her mother, the late Carline Ray, held degrees from both Juilliard and the Manhattan School of Music and performed with the International Sweethearts of Rhythm during World War II. She later performed "with Doc Cheatham and Wynton Marsalis, among others."

Russell's interest in music began as a child. 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." 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."

Background vocalist

In the mid-1980s, she often visited a Manhattan club where guitarist Jimmy Vivino was the bandleader. One evening she was invited to sing on stage with musician Donald Fagen of the band Steely Dan. Soon after, 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. She spent "many years on the road with rock, blues, jazz, soul and gospel bands." She preferred to tour with acoustic string bands as she did not have to compete with electric guitars.

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."

Jazz career

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. However, Russell initially rejected the idea as she believed she already had "a nice career as a backup singer." 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).

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." Six albums followed, about one every two years, supported by an extensive touring schedule in Asia, Australia, Europe and the United States. With Russell's roots in jazz and the blues, Russell quickly became well known in jazz circles and, by January 2014, was the second best-selling female artist on several jazz charts.

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.'" The New York Times stated that her performances project "a strength, good humor and intelligence that engulf the room in a mood of bonhomie." 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."

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

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." The same year, she released her seventh album, Alone Together, via Dot Time Records.

• German Record Critics' Award — Sentimental Streak (2008)
• Prix Decouverte from Hot Club de France — Sentimental Streak (2008)
• Grammy Award — Best Americana Album — Levon Helm, Electric Dirt (2009)
• 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 & 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)

Albums

• Cat (2006)
• Sentimental Streak (2008)
• Inside This Heart of Mine (2010)
• Strictly Romancin' (2012)
• Bring It Back (2014)
• Harlem on My Mind (2016)
• Alone Together (2019)

Soundtracks and compilations as featured artist

As backing singer, musician or guest lead singer

Some of Russell's credits are as follows: