PRESS RELEASES
Catherine Russell’s Critically Acclaimed “Alone Together” + Appearance in Feature Film “Bolden”
Catherine Russell’s Alone Together
Receives Critical Acclaim, Rises on Charts
Upcoming Appearances in Bolden,
Continuing International Tour, and
Performances with Steely Dan
“Catherine Russell is not only one of the best jazz singers,
she is one of our best singers, period.” — Glide Magazine
“Perhaps that’s the charm of ‘Alone Together:’ Catherine Russell is
a stellar artist not just because of her enchanting voice, but also because of
her gift as an interpreter and her passion for the music.” — Something Else!
“…an unerring ear for great material and a voice
that sounds timeless…” — DownBeat (4-star review)
“…she’s carved out a singular niche as a nonpareil interpreter
of American Songbook standards, forgotten jazz
and blues anthems…” — Mercury News
“Her vocal tone is resonant and buttery and delivery hits the sweet spot
between passion and detachment. Perfect.” — New York City Jazz Record
“Catherine Russell is one of the most Herculean singers I know.
She sings all across the musical spectrum, but she’s
especially full of blues and swing.” — WBGO
“Russell is not just a singer; she’s an historian, a curator…
and, yes, even something of a witch doctor—because every tune she
touches is resurrected.” — WRTI (Jazz Album of The Week)
“She makes the lyrics sound like they just
popped into her head.” — Elmore Magazine
Catherine Russell’s seventh studio album as a leader, Alone Together (released March 1 on Dot Time Records), is another step in the career of the versatile and timeless vocalist. Alone Together was the most added album in the first week of release on JazzWeek charts and became their #1 jazz album (now two weeks in a row); additionally, it debuted at #6 on the Billboard jazz charts, hit #1 best selling new vocal jazz release on Amazon, and “Is You Or Is You Ain’t My Baby” hit #2 on the iTunes jazz songs chart. The momentum will continue with Russell’s appearance in the upcoming feature film Bolden, as well as a run of dates with Steely Dan in the Spring and Fall, and some new performances added to her ongoing international tour (check tour schedule below for updated itinerary).
Drawing on composers and lyricists of The Great American Songbook—Irving Berlin, Eddie de Lange and Jimmy Van Heusen—along with songwriters from the Swing and Rhythm & Blues eras—Nat Cole, Louis Jordan, and Al Dubin and Harry Warren—Russell invigorates their creations on Alone Together. At the center is Russell’s voice, and while comparisons to Ella, Billie, Sarah, and Dinah abound—while flattering—she has a sound all her own.
In theaters on May 3, Russell will appear in the upcoming feature film, Bolden: a drama directed by Dan Pritzker, with music by Wynton Marsalis. The movie imagines the life of trumpeter Buddy Bolden, and the birth of jazz in New Orleans. The soundtrack album will be released on April 19 via Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Blue Engine Records. Considering her pedigree (Her father, Luis Russell, and her mother, Carline Ray, were both pioneers of early jazz), it’s no surprise that Russell was cast to portray Lalique Lill, a madame who sings bordello blues. In addition to her singing and acting cameo in the film, she contributes vocals to the soundtrack album.
As noted on the Bolden website, “the birth of jazz was the birth of American popular culture, influencing everything that followed, from Louis Armstrong to Jimi Hendrix…Bolden is where it all began.” Catherine Russell embodies that continuum; a vocalist who curates material from the turn of the century to the present, who has recorded with David Bowie and been a member of his last touring band, and who as a child hung out with her parents at Louis Armstrong’s home.
Upcoming Catherine Russell Tour Dates
March 26 / 24th Street Theatre at Sierra 2 Center for the Arts and Community / Sacramento, CA
March 28 / Thomasville Center For The Arts / Thomasville, GA
March 29-30 / Kravis Center For The Arts / West Palm Beach, FL
April 2-3 / Savannah Music Festival / Savannah, GA
April 7 / NJJS 50th Annual Pee Wee Russell Memorial Stomp / Morristown, NJ
April 12-14 / Kimmel Center (Philly Pops) / Philadelphia, PA
April 17 / Jazz at Lincoln Center Gala / New York, NY
April 28 / Jazz Philharmonics / St. Petersburg, Russia
April 30 / St. Petersburg Music Hall / St. Petersburg, Russia
May 3-4 / The Venetian (w/ Steely Dan) / Las Vegas, NV
May 10 / Saint Lucia Jazz Festival / Pigeon Island, Saint Lucia
May 22-26 / Jazz St. Louis / St. Louis, MO
June 28 / Rochester Jazz Festival / Rochester, NY
+ Steely Dan tour dates tba for summer/fall