Jazz / Contemporary Jazz, Vocal Jazz
Andy Breslau Liner Notes
Brendan McDonough Assistant Engineer
Brian John Mitchell Piano
Brian Rust Research
Byron Isaacs Bass (Acoustic)
Catherine Russell Vocals
Dick Sudhalter Research
Erik Lawrence Saxophone
Greg Calbi Mastering
Howard Johnson Tuba
James Wormworth Drums
Justin Guip Mixing, Engineer
Larry Campbell Producer, Mandolin, Violin, Guitar (Resonator), Guitar, Pedal Steel
Larry Ham Piano
Lee Hudson Bass (Acoustic)
Matt Munisteri Banjo, Guitar
Rachelle Garniez Accordion
Steven Bernstein Cornet, Slide Trumpet, Trumpet, Horn Arrangements
Ignoring both the smooth school of jazz vocals and the soft croon of Norah Jones,
Catherine Russell digs deep into jazz and blues traditions on Sentimental Streak. One might call her approach old-fashioned, and it is, but the mostly acoustic arrangements and her resonate lower range sound fresh on Sentimental Streak. One might be reminded of the recent Erin McKeown album, Sing You Sinners, another fresh take on classic jazz. One pitfall that Russell -- like McKeown -- avoids is treating both the old and new songs she covers as serious and sacred. In other words, she offers treatments of "Kitchen Man" and "My Old Daddy's Got a Brand New Way to Love" that are fun. These two songs, pulled from the repertoires of Bessie Smith and Alberta Hunter, also remind one how easily classic blues melds with classic jazz. Russell's vocals are underpinned by lively, mostly spare, arrangements that vary from song to song, keeping Sentimental Streak from ever settling into a predictable groove. Likewise, she mixes ballads like "South to a Warmer Place" with groovier fare like "Thrill Me." Acoustically speaking, the pianos, acoustic and electric guitars, basses, accordions, and violins have also been recorded well. With Sentimental Streak, Russell has delivered an album that is easy to like and easy to recommend. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., All Music Guide
Catherine Russell
Active Decade: '00s
Genre: Jazz
Styles: Contemporary Blues
Jazz and blues vocalist Catherine Russell, a native of New York City, was born with distinctive bloodlines. Her father was Luis Russell, the renowned big-band leader who was born in Panama, and lived in New Orleans and New York City. He was a groundbreaking vintage jazzman -- a pianist, composer/arranger, and most prominently, the music director for Louis Armstrong in the mid-'40s. Her mother is Carline Ray, a veteran jazz bassist, vocalist, graduate of the Julliard and Manhattan Schools of Music, and famous for performing with the International Sweethearts of Rhythm, Mary Lou Williams, and Wynton Marsalis, among many others. Naturally Catherine Russell is influenced by old-time blues and jazz singers like Bessie Smith, Ruth Brown, and Etta James, as well as the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Nancy Wilson, Abbey Lincoln, gospel and opera music. But she was a late bloomer, not establishing a recording career as a leader until much later in life. She has appeared at numerous festivals and on nationally syndicated radio and television shows. As a backup singer, she has worked with Paul Simon, David Bowie, Steely Dan, Cyndi Lauper, Jackson Browne, Rosanne Cash, Joan Osborne, and Madonna. One may have also heard her voice on TV and radio commercials for Bud Light, Oil Of Olay, J.C. Penney, and Dairy Queen. Singing jazz with groups including bassist Earl May, pianist Larry Ham, drummer Eddie Locke, or Jimmy Wormworth, Russell emerged as a retro old-school vocalist for the ages. She finally debuted on her own with the 2006 CD Cat for the World Village label with guitarist Frank Portolese and banjo or mandolin player Stuart J. Rosenberg, followed by Sentimental Streak in 2008 featuring guitarist/producer Larry Campbell and special guests Howard Johnson and Steven Bernstein, recorded at the studios of Levon Helm in Woodstock, N.Y.
---Michael G. Nastos, All Music Guide |
