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Russell Gunn
If one were attempting to design a prototype for the quintessential contemporary musician in the African-American tradition, trumpeter/fluegelhornist/composer Russell Gunn would be an ideal model. A certified member of the hip-hop generation by age (born in 1971) and geography (the hardcore ghetto of East St. Louis), Russell's early aspirations in the world of rap music took precedence over the trumpet that he began playing in fourth grade. When he reached sixteen, the deadline he set for his hip-hop career to take off, his dedication to the art of jazz took shape.
Rather than abandoning the music he loved, he simply applied its energy, spirit and fiercely proud intellectual rage to the jazz idiom, creating a synthesis that is truly contemporary and singular, exemplified by his groundbreaking group, Ethnomusicology.
As the name clearly indicates, Gunn, like most of the finest young musicians to emerge in the past decade, has developed his music from a wide variety of musical influences. In his case, Gunn weaves together elements of Cuban, Brazilian, African, D.C.'s "Go Go" music, and Hip-Hop into an adventurously progressive jazz style that pays tribute to its tradition while also extending the form.
Born in Chicago, Russell was nine years old when his family moved to East St. Louis, Illinois. Always interested in music, at the age of 10, he selected the trumpet as his instrument and began a nearly decade-long membership in his school band where his cousin Anthony Wiggins, the band's featured trumpeter, and the band director Ron Carter (not the legendary bassist) fueled his musical interest.
But it was really the popular rapper LL Cool J who was his primary inspiration and first musical idol. While performing at school talent shows, making demos and constructing adventurous rhymes, Russell began to develop a deeper understanding of the jazz language which had always been so daunting, but fascinating to him.
After spending two years at Mississippi's Jackson State University on a full music scholarship, Gunn moved to St. Louis, freelancing and periodically performing on cruise ships.
It was while working at a club called Cicero's in 1993 that the great saxophonist/composer and co-founder of the World Saxophone Quartet, Oliver Lake happened to hear the young trumpeter, and immediately invited him to come to New York for a performance at the Brooklyn Museum.
Suffering undue criticism from the neo-conservative jazz mainstream for his dreadlocks and hip-hop culture style of dress, Russell's virtuoso abilities and command of all musical styles from funk to the avant-garde evidenced a serious new talent on the scene.
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Russell Gunn: Plays Miles
by John Kelman
Since introducing his hip hop/funk/fusion-centric Ethnomusicology series in 1999--culminating in Ethnomusicology Vol. 4: Live in Atlanta (Justin-Time, 2004)-- forward-looking trumpeter Russell Gunn has alternated straight-ahead fare for HighNote like 2002's Blue on the D.L., with Ethnomusicology releases for a variety of labels. With Plays Miles, however, he finds clear common ground. Given his steadfast avoidance of labeling it's no surprise that Gunn is gradually moving towards a unified approach that brings together all of his diverse musical interests.
There's no ...
read moreRussell Gunn: Ethnomusicology Vol. 4: Live in Atlanta
by John Kelman
As an alternative to Wynton Marsalis, who steadfastly hangs onto the singular American Jazz Tradition and, granted, eloquently and skillfully keeps it alive through his playing, educating and entrepreneuring, trumpeter Russell Gunn has shown an unerring desire over the course of the past ten years to merge styles into a personal language that asserts jazz as the melting pot it truly is. As much as Gunn has proven himself to be a capable hard and post bop player on early ...
read moreRussell Gunn: Ethnomusicology, Vol. 3
by AAJ Staff
Russell Gunn has a problem with critics--but only the ones who don't like his music. The third track on this record makes this point more than abundantly clear. And it's pure hypocrisy.
Regardless, I'm afraid I'll have to join this elite group. Gunn's last record (Vol. 2) was a brilliant blending of jazz with hip-hop, funk and other styles. Vol. 3 has crossed the line into pure indulgence and fallen off the edge. A few inspired combinations drown ...
read moreRussell Gunn: Ethnomusicology, Vol. 2
by AAJ Staff
Trumpeter Russell Gunn demonstrated a very personal vision of jazz fusion on the first volume in this series, which generated a lot of media interest and earned him a Grammy nomination. He continues along the same vein with Ethnomusicology, Vol. 2, a fine showcase for his manifold crossover interests.
It's too easy to dismiss this music as lightweight or trivial. Gunn is serious about his work, and there's ample evidence on Ethnomusicology, Vol. 2 to prove the point. His interpretation ...
read moreRussell Gunn: Ethnomusicology, Volume 1
by Douglas Payne
Few attempts at a jazz and hip hop union have ever been successful or satisfying. Maybe it's one school's inability to understand the other or the problematic potential of getting two such different audiences in the same room. But, somehow, the maverick 28-year-old trumpeter Russell Gunn has made it work with Ethnomusicology, one of the finest and most original jazz documents to come along in some time. On this, his first Atlantic set, Gunn departs distinctively from his previous Muse ...
read moreRussell Gunn: Young Gunn Plus
by Jim Santella
Recorded in 1994 when young lion Russell Gunn was a mere 23 years old, the Muse album Young Gunn is a quintet session with tenor saxophonist Sam Newsome, pianist John Hicks, bassist Peter Washington, and drummer Cecil Brooks III. This 32 Jazz reissue adds three tracks with a different quintet. Coming from a background that like that of many younger jazz artists, Russell Gunn learned the trumpet in elementary school, enjoyed and benefited from public school instrumental programs, and allowed ...
read moreRussell Gunn: Young Gunn Plus
by Douglas Payne
This solid and engaging mainstream debut was first issued on Muse Records in 1995 when trumpeter Russell Gunn was 24 years old. That disc didn't attract much attention and Gunn went on to work with Wynton ( Blood on the Fields ) and Brandford Marsalis ( Buckshot LeFonque ) then followed up his debut with last year's Gunn Fu (HighNote). But the wise folks at 32 Jazz thought Young Gunn deserved another chance.Much will probably be made of ...
read moreJazz this week: Russell Gunn's "Blackhawk Revisited," Cécile McLorin Salvant, and more
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St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
There's some interesting jazz and creative music on local stages this week in St. Louis, including only the second local performance ever by a highly acclaimed young singer, and a re-examination of music from an oft-overlooked period of Miles Davis' career, courtesy of a trumpeter raised in Davis' hometown. Let's go to the highlights... Wednesday, November 15 Trumpeter Russell Gunn, who grew up in East St. Louis and now lives in Atlanta, will be back home with his “Blackhawk Revisited" ...
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StLJN Saturday Video Showcase: Russell Gunn's Blackhawk Revisited
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St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
Today, let's check out some videos featuring trumpeter and East St. Louis native Russell Gunn, who's bringing his “Blackhawk Revisited" project to St. Louis to perform starting next Wednesday, November 15 through Saturday, November 18 at Jazz at the Bistro. The word “Blackhawk" in this case refers not to the hockey team, the comic-book hero, or the helicopter, but to the Black Hawk nightclub in San Francisco where Miles Davis in 1961 recorded In Person Friday and Saturday Nights at ...
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Jazz this week: Mike Stern & Kimberly Thompson, George Sams, Ralph Towner, Ikue Mori & Nate Wooley, Russell Gunn, and more
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St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
As you might be able to deduce from looking at the headline for this post, it's very busy week for jazz and creative music in St. Louis. Over the next few days, there will be a plethora of visiting performers on local stages, plus the opening of a play about one of the most famous jazz singers ever, free master classes from two guitar greats, and more. Let's go to the highlights... Wednesday, February 15 Guitarist Mike Stern performs for ...
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Jazz this week: Harry Connick Jr., St. Louis Cabaret Festival, Russell Gunn with Montez Coleman, and more
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St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
It's looking like a good week to get out and hear some live jazz and creative music in St. Louis, particularly for fans of vocalists. With three headliners performing for the St. Louis Cabaret Festival, plus the opening of a locally produced show paying tribute to a legendary singer, plus the much-anticipated return of one of today's most popular crossover performers, and more, there are plenty of options from which to choose. Let's go to the highlights.... Wednesday, July 22 ...
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Jazz This Week: Jazz Edge Big Band with Russell Gunn and Keyon Harrold, Byron Stripling, Chicago Afrobeat Project, Alarm Will Sound, and More
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St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
Yes, St. Louis jazz fans, Jazz at the Bistro is closed for the next four months, but don't despair; while we wait with bated breath for the newly expanded and swankified Bistro to reopen in the fall, there's still a good deal of jazz and creative music to be heard around town, and StLJN will help you find it. Let's go to this week's highlights... On Thursday night, the 13th annual John L Baker Memorial Concert, featuring a big band ...
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Jazz This Week: Jane Monheit, Miles Davis Jazz Festival with Russell Gunn, New Music Circle Showcase, Tammy McCann, and More
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St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
This week's menu of jazz and creative music offerings in St. Louis includes a number of special events, most notably the annual Miles Davis Jazz Festival in Alton, plus the long-awaited return of one of the more popular female vocalists in jazz. That would be singer Jane Monheit, who's back in St. Louis to perform in a four-night engagement beginning this evening and continuing through Saturday at Jazz at the Bistro. It's Monheit's first visit here since 2010 and this ...
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Notes from the Net: Russell Gunn's Latest CD; Awards for Clark Terry and David Sanborn; Plus News, Reviews, Interviews and More
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St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
Here's the latest compilation of assorted news briefs and links related to jazz, improvisation, and creative music in St. Louis, including news of musicians originally from the Gateway City, recent visitors, and coming attractions, plus assorted other items of interest:* Starting, as we usually do, with the most famous jazz musician ever to come from the St. Louis area, Miles Davis Online has news of a jazz festival named after Davis that takes place this week at the ...
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Jazz This Week: Greater St. Louis Jazz Festival, John Pizzarelli, King Sunny Ade, Ronald Carter and Russell Gunn, Lea Delaria, and More
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St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
It's an extremely busy week for jazz and creative music in St. Louis, with everything from big bands and straight-ahead small group swing to organ-driven soul-jazz, cabaret, free improv, and two or three different flavors of ethnic music fused with jazz.Let's go to straight to the highlights, described here in more-or-less chronological order:On Wednesday, singer and guitarist John Pizzarelli, who's always a good draw here in the Gateway City, begin a four-night run at Jazz at ...
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Jazz This Week: Oliver Lake Organ Trio with Russell Gunn, Garaj Mahal, Funky Butt Brass Band, and More
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St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
We're heading into the proverbial holiday home stretch of 2009, and though some local music venues have gone dormant for the holidays (such as the various university-based concert series) and others are deep into Christmas music to the exclusion of all else, there are still some noteworthy events over the next few days in St. Louis for fans of jazz and creative music. Here's a quick look at some of the highlights:Fittingly for the holiday season, the weekend's ...
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STLJN Saturday Video Showcase: Live Performances from Oliver Lake and Russell Gunn
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St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
Two former St. Louisans from different generations, saxophonist Oliver Lake and trumpeter Russell Gunn, will share a stage here next week as Jazz at the Bistro hosts four nights of Lake's Organ Trio with Gunn as special guest. (Jazz St. Louis is offering a special two-for-the-price-of-one deal on tickets for the Lake/Gunn extravaganza; see this post for details.)Both men have been the ...
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