Keep (it) Swinging: Catherine Russell latest album Strictly Romancin' released

A jazz singer with a husky tone but a bright temperament ( New York Times)
American jazz vocalist visits Europe in May
Hans Koert

Catherine Russell latest album Strictly Romancin' released (English) | Catherine Russell vierde album uitgebracht: Strictly Romancin' ( Nederlands)

Recently Catherine Russell released her fourth album since she decided to go solo .... In 2004, then 48 years young, she decided to stop as a background vocalist behind great names like David Bowie and Paul Simon and to change course. In 2006 she released her first solo album, simply entitled Cat, followed by Sentimental Streak (2008) and Inside This Heart of Mine. Her fourth album is entitled Strictly Romancin' and contains more then a dozen songs, accompanied by her regular quartet, which includes Matt Munisteri (guitar and banjo) - Mark Shane (piano) - Lee Hudson (double bass) and Mark McLean (drums) and several guest players.

Catherine Russell at an in-shop concert at the Drvkkerij - Middelburg (The Netherlands) (October 2010) ( photo courtesy: Hans Koert)
Catherine Russell was born and raised in a musical family, which had its roots in the jazz scene of the 1930s. In most reviews you can read about her roots, about the fact that her father was the well known band leader Luis Russell, is discussed detailed, so I won't stir up that ..... Her mother, Carline Ray, however, was a guitar player in bands like the 1940s International Sweethearts of Rhythm.

Catherine Russell at an in-shop concert at the Drvkkerij - Middelburg (The Netherlands) (October 2010) ( photo courtesy: Hans Koert)
Catherine tells, that she dreamed to play a duet with her mother, who was one of the members of the International Sweethearts of Rhythm in the 1940s (she was the guitar player); Later she took the double bass and recorded with Jimmy Smith, and performed in bands with Red Richard and Ruth Brown. This dream came true in her latest album; He's All I Need is a traditional gospel, sung and dedicated to Sister Rosetta Tharpe. The great vocalist Mary Lou Williams, another singer that inspired Catherine to make this album, did work with her mother during the early 1970s; Catherine honoured her in the great tune: Satchel Mouth Baby!, which was recorded by Mary Lou and her Chosen Five in March 1944 for Asch.

Mark Shane at an in-shop concert at the Drvkkerij - Middelburg (The Netherlands) (October 2010) ( photo courtesy: Hans Koert)

Enjoy a short trailer in which Catherine tells you about the singers and tunes, that inspired her for this great album:

The album contains standards, like I'm in the Mood for Love and No More, sung by Billie Holiday during the 1940s and compositions like the dated Dixieland tune Everybody Loves My Baby, which changes into the hands of Catherine into a fresh new tune, as if it was composed yesterday. This is, i.m.o., the strength of Catherine Russell selected repertoire and her surplus value, that makes her so popular to a forgotten group of jazz fans.

Catherine Russell and Mark Shane (in the background) at an in-shop concert at the Drvkkerij - Middelburg (The Netherlands) (October 2010) ( photo courtesy: Hans Koert)

The generation,that was raised in a time when swing was popular music, ruminates the records from the past and seldom hear these songs played by a new generation of musicians, who play these famous standards as if they were written yesterday, instead of (half) a century ago .... The way Catherine sings Everybody Loves My Baby is a good example ... it gives the same sensation as in the 1920s the flapper wifes must have had when they heard these words for the very first time ......... When my baby kisses me upon my rosy cheeks, I have to let those kisses be. Don't wash my face for weeks .....

Catherine Russell at an in-shop concert at the Drvkkerij - Middelburg (The Netherlands) (October 2010) ( photo courtesy: Hans Koert)
One of my favorites is her swinging version of I'm Checkin' Out, Goom' Bye, originally sung by Ivie Anderson, which contains a small, but great dialogue between the vocalist and John Allred on trombone. Love to share with you part of this great rather unknown Strayhorn composition:

I heard Catherine singing at a short in-store concert at the Drvkkery bookshop and record store in Middelburg (The Netherlands), October 2010, together with piano player Mark Shane and she surprised me and learned me that even the traditional jazz and swing repertoire can still fascinate and inspire, if it is performed by professional musicians, who know how this repertoire should be played ...... Catherine will be in this part of the world (Europe) next month, so try to join one of her concerts and if you are not around, you stil can enjoy her latest album Strictly Romancin’

Catherine Russell at an in-shop concert at the Drvkkerij - Middelburg (The Netherlands) (October 2010) ( photo courtesy: Hans Koert)

The album can be ordered at the Harmonia Mundi store. and all major online webshops.

Catherine Russell will visit Switzerland, Germany,France, The Netherlands and Luxembourg between the 11th of May up to the 27th of May.

All shows are Catherine Russell + Trio (Mark Shane – piano, Matt Munisteri-guitar, Lee Hudson-bass) except On three shows add

*w/Duke Heitger – trumpet, Andreas Maile – sax, Jeff Hamilton – drums

Catherine Russell: Europe in May 2012
Fri 11 Buelach, Switzerland – JazzInn im Grampen *
Sat 12 Stuttgart, Germany – Leiderhalle/ Mozart-Saal *
Mon 14 Ascona, Switzerland – Jazz Cat Club
Wed 16 Luzerne, Switzerland – Grand Casino Luzern *
Fri 18 Amsterdam, Netherlands - Bimhuis
Sat 19 Breda, Netherlands - Breda Jazz Festival (also Sunday morning 5/20)
Sun 20 Ijmuiden, Netherlands – Thalia Theater
Tue 22 Paris, France - Sunside
Thu 24 Rotterdam, Netherlands - Lantaren Venster
Fri 25 Heerlen, Netherlands – Parkstad Limburg Theater
Sat 26 Almere, Netherlands – Schouwburg Almere
Sun 27 – Luxembourg City, Luxembourg – All American Music Festival

Hans Koert

keepswinging@live.nl

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Catherine Russell started a solo career as a jazz singer, after backing great pop singers for decades. Raised in a musical family she knows how to handle the jazz repertoire of great singers like Ivie Anderson, Mary Lou Williams or Abbey Lincoln ..... Recently her fourth album was released, Strictly Romancin', a swinging album which will fascinate a large group of jazz lovers. Keep (it) Swinging loves to point you to this album, which has its roots in the traditional and swing jazz music ..... If you don't want to miss any contribution, please ask for the free (monthly) newsletter: keepswinging@live.nl