Hal Russell (born Harold Russell Luttenbacher, August 28, 1926 – September 5, 1992) Russell's fiery music was marked by significant humor, not unlike much of Dutch drummer Han Bennink's output. His music was so accessible that People magazine hailed The Finnish Swiss Tour on ECM as one of its top 5 albums of the year. Russell set the table for the free improv and free jazz scene which exploded later in the 1990s in Chicago.
Biography
Born in Detroit, Michigan, United States,
As with many young players in the mid-1940s, Russell's life was irreversibly changed by bebop. In the 1950s he worked with musicians including Miles Davis, Billie Holiday, Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, and Duke Ellington.
In the early 1970s, Russell was the regular percussionist for the band at the suburban Chicago Candlelight Dinner Playhouse. Here he played mostly drums, but occasionally vibes and keyboards. At the same time he would host many young jazz musicians for jam sessions at his home, or in Chicago nightclubs.
In 1979, Russell formed the NRG Ensemble,
Discography
- Elixir (Atavistic, 1979, issued 2001)
- NRG Ensemble (Nessa, 1981) – with NRG Ensemble
- Eftsoons (Nessa, 1981) – with Mars Williams
- Generation (Nessa, 1982) – with NRG Ensemble & Charles Tyler
- Conserving NRG (Principally Jazz, 1984) – with NRG Ensemble
- Hal on Earth (Abduction, 1989) – with NRG Ensemble
- The Finnish/Swiss Tour (ECM, 1991) – with NRG Ensemble
- Albert's Lullaby (Southport, 1991, issued 2000) - with Michael Staron
- Naked Colours (Silkheart, 1991 [1994]) – with Joel Futterman
- Hal's Bells (ECM, 1992)
- The Hal Russell Story (ECM, 1993) – with NRG Ensemble
With The Flying Luttenbachers
- Destructo Noise Explosion!: Live at WNUR 2-6-92 (ugEXPLODE, 1992)