Episode 30: "I'd be nowhere without my friends," with guest Catherine Russell
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IN THIS EPISODE:
Get ready for a master class on singing and life with Grammy-winning vocalist (and all-around beautiful and wise human being) Catherine Russell. Cat has shared the stage with David Bowie, Cyndi Lauper, and Steely Dan (to name but a few) and, with half a dozen critically acclaimed recordings under her belt, is one of the most dynamic jazz and blues singers of our time. Cat shares insights about how she chooses the songs she sings, the importance of being a musical archaeologist, and the life-saving properties of music.
RENAISSANCE WOMAN
From playing the tuba to studying theatre, Catherine Russell has done it all. The jazz world is very happy to have Catherine in its midst these days, but Catherine's also shared the stage with some of pop and rock music's biggest names, as shown in the photo below.
Clockwise from top: Catherine taking a curtain call with David Bowie; backing up Donald Fagan with her harmonious cohorts Carolyn Leonhart and LaTanya Hall; swinging in style with Michael Feinstein; on the road with Steely Dan; rocking out with Cyndi Lauper.
MAKING A JOYFUL NOISE...
Our very own Melissa Stylianou regularly sings the Jazz Vespers at St. Peter's Church here in NYC, as does Catherine from time to time.
LEARN MORE ABOUT CATHERINE RUSSELL:
DEEP CUTS FROM THIS EPISODE:
Some Catherine Russell family home movies, featuring a childhood encounter with none other than Louis Armstrong, for whom her father, Luis Russell, was musical director.
This bawdy, playful tune made us all blush…and we love it.
IT'S A FAMILY AFFAIR...
Catherine’s father, Panama-born bandleader and pianist Luis Russell.
We can’t be sure if Catherine’s mother, Carline Ray, is the guitarist in this particular video, but we know that Carline (a multi-instrumentalist and wonderful singer) performed extensively with the International Sweethearts of Rhythm, a groundbreaking all-women orchestra.