Bass - Jack Thorncraft / Thierry Fossemalle;
Drums - Dave Sanders / Scott Hills;
Guitar - Jim Kelly / Matt Smith;
Sax: -Tony Buchanan / Dave Ades / Shaston King;
Influences
Oscar, Errol, George and Dave, Hank and Tommy, Red and Wynton, Bill, Thelonius, Chick and Herbie, Miles and Trane and Cannonball - the usual suspects... then Larry and Lee, Michael, rest his soul, and Randy, and Don Grolnick! Ray Charles, George Benson, evrything on the radio from about 1968 till 1980 something...
Stephen comes from a family of gifted musicians. He received a thorough classical training, and has been performing since the age of five.
He has twenty five years of extensive sideman experience with international jazz artists such as James Morrison, Dale Barlow, Richie Cole, Chuck Findlay, Georgie Fame, Gerry Mulligan and Nancy Williams, contemporary Australian musicians Mark Simmonds, Bernie McGann, Jim Kelly, Bob Gebert, Tommy Emmanuel and Roger Frampton, and Australian jazz icons Don Burrows and George Golla. He also has considerable experience in most contemporary styles of music, and recording experience ranging from a plethora of TV and radio jingles to contemporary jazz discs like Jim Kelly's "Salient Points," the Baartz Freeman Sextet's "Southeast", Sharny Russell's "A Good Thing On Hold", and "Transit Lounge" with blues artist Ross Ward. He also composes original music for improvisation, featured on his CD, "When The Light Comes".
Stephen was for several years musical director of the highly acclaimed (and greatly employed) Brisbane jazz outfit, Leah Cotterell and Bebopera. The Steve Russell Trio was engaged weekly for two years at the Jazz'n'Blues Bar at the Brisbane City Travelodge, and his jazz/fusion quintet, Real Time, featuring Tony Buchanan, drew consistently large audiences.
He was for two years Associate Lecturer and for one Acting Coordinator of the Jazz and Popular Music strand of the Bachelor of Arts, Music, program at the Queensland University of Technology, and is presently teaching piano and ensemble studies in the Bachelor of Arts at Southern Cross University.
Stephen's 2001 debut as a conductor for White Dove's critically acclaimed production of "Jesus Christ Superstar," has led to further invitations to conduct orchestras in the Northern Rivers district of New South Wales, and his performances with the hugely successful Women In Voice in 2001, 2003 and 2004 have enhanced his reputation as an accompanist.
2001 also saw Steve dust off his vocal chords and develop a repertoire of his favorite jazz standards and R&B songs. Busy this year with the reunion of acclaimed Sydney fusion band, 'Crossfire', Steve is also presently performing with Northern Rivers local luminaries such as Leigh Carriage, Jack Thorncraft and Jim Kelly, working as Musical Director for singer Grace Knight, writing new repertoire for his own quintet, while continuing to develop his skills as a teacher.
Hey dad. Could you do me a huge favour and tell everyone about this? this is huge news for the band. If we get on this, we'll be playing in front of thousands of people! please spread the word and tell everyone to vote. thank you very mucho. Love, Julian. CLICK HERE TO VOTE!
Chapter 4 of my book is now up as a blog at my Myspace site. It's about Howie Smith, Roger Frampton and the setting up of the Con jazz course in 1973. It's a pretty good run-down of that era thanks to lots of info Howie sent me.
It was so lovely to see you and Leigh last night at the BJC! I wish you guys lived closer. I hope you've had a relaxing weekend away from the noise of 'Splendour'.
Cheryl and I will be selling your merch again at the upcoming Crossfire gigs at the Basement in June. Look forward to seeing you then. Hope all is well.
Hi Steve,
Chapter 3 of my book about Jazz in Sydney in the 70s is now up. This chapter covers the amazing exploits of jazz producer Horst Liepolt.
Enjoy in good health, Peter B
So guess what i did yesterday?!
I finally watched West Side Story!! and it was amazing!!!!!
i loved it so much! haha
and i was thinking about you and leigh the whole time i was watching it but it would have been like 2 in the morning if i would have called you so i decided not to. :)
i love you!
June? Aww you're going over there aren't you. . .how much are tickets. I wanna see the little squirts. . .hehe.
I met Sue. . .Anderson?'s daughter Jenna last night?. . mean anything to you?
I still love you.
Peace
Hey Steve,
Just saying hi
Hope the Byron Crossfire gig went well
would've love to have been there
but Christmas Party duties called.
Best to all the guys with the tour
Grace & Peace :)
Deano
DADDY!!!!
I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!
I'm gunna miss you so much... :(
But hopefully myspace will help because its free and im online a lot usually too!! That means I will get to talk to you more!!! yay!!!!!!!!!
LOVE YOU!
Amy
