EDDIE RUSS SEE THE LIGHT/TAKE A LOOK AT YOURSELF

Keyboardist Eddie Russ hailed from PIttsburg and played with many of the greats including Sarah Vaughn, Benny Golson, Stan Getz and Dizzy Gillespie. Eddie is somewhat of an enigma, but he has always been held in high regard in the UK, and he finally was able to perform here in London at the Jazz café in the early 90’s a few years before his untimely demise. 

His debut album ‘Fresh Out’ was recorded for the Jazz Masters label and includes the jazz dance classic ‘The Lope Song’ , he also contributed heavily to Sonny Stitt’s ‘Tornado’ album on that label. His band The Mixed Bag also made an album fro the Detroit Tribe label. In 1976 he signed to John Richbourg’s Sound Stage 7 label and made two great jazz funk albums which were released on the Nashville’s  Monument label and like his debut were produced by Bob Crawford.

From the first album ‘See The Light’ the title track is a great take on the Earth Wind And Fire song, ‘Poko Nose’ is a great funky groove oriented track, but it is the magical ‘Zaius’ that has become an all time jazz funk classic, a track that has maintained its popularity over the past 30 years. This track really has that something special and it is as good to listen as to dance to.

From the 1978 album ‘Take A Look At Yourself’ the title track is a monster percussive jazz funker on which Eddie’s keyboard’s really shine through and Jackie Holiday’s soulful vocals really top it off. She also does a great job of the Emotions’ ‘Don’t Ask My Neighbours’ , and Renee Coles adds her vocals to the infectious rare groove version of  Quincy Jones ‘I Heard That’ .

These albums include some great musicians including Marcus Belgrave and Larry Nozero, and on the second album  Motown’s Eddie Willis, a very young Kenny Garrett and the funk group Quazar

We are proud to present these two great albums on CD for the first time and give a fitting tribute to the largely unsung Eddie Russ.

Laurence Prangell
October 2008.

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