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Event
Woody Russell Trio with Honeyboy and Boots
HIGHLIGHTS
Tours throughout North America at all manner of venues (clubs, house concerts, theaters) as well as major festivals (Newport Folk Festival, NxNE, SxSW, Winterfolk, Folk Alliance, Kerrville, Sisters, Houston Intl, Tall City Blues, & more)
2016 named official artist on the Texas Commission on the Arts Touring Roster
2016 Finalist - USA Songwriting Competition
2016 release of Carry It Up with successfully funded Pledge Music campaign
2016 Listening Room Festival Featured Artist
2015 Finalist - International Acoustic Music Awards
2014/15 Honorable Mention - International Songwriting Competition
2013 recipient of the Bugle Boy Founders Choice Talent Trust Award (Kat Edmonson, 2011 / John Fullbright, 2012).
2013 successfully funded release of Delicious Days (2013) and subsequent video through Kickstarter
2012 co-founder of BluzSkool, an interactive live program that encourages "Creative Courage" through musical improvisation with elementary aged children (booked at rural schools throughout Texas)
2011-2012 (Television) Prominently featured artist on the debut season (Sept 11 Sept 12) of Troubadour, TX, a nationally syndicated docu-reality show that aired weekly on the CW Network in over 20 million homes
2010 release, Up Against It, received substantial critical praise in national and international blues press
2006 release, Salt, nominated for an IMA Album Of The Year
CARRY IT UP
Critically acclaimed, award winning vocalist, guitarist and composer, Woody Russell, has released a body of recorded work that spans from the folk-rock infused songwriter fare of his first album, As Simple As That (1996) to the more recent and highly praised blues/soul release of Up Against It (2010) and the pop-jazz shades of Delicious Days (2013). A year in the making, his newest full length album, Russell's latest, Carry It Up, delivers more jazz shaded compositions that orbits around themes of love, compassion, tolerance, respect and the quest for all of the aforementioned. Again, his jazz-adjacent songwriting is present throughout as the band turns in one exceptional performance after another. Mainstays from previous WR lineups include bassist extraordinaire, Brady Muckelroy and harmonica ace, Jose Ruiz. Newer additions, Lloyd Wright (piano, keys), Derrick Hicks (piano), Tony Miller (drums) and special guest vocalist, Jacqui Walker, shine through with inspired performances. The recording is brimming with excellent solos and ensemble interplay. But, what elevates the game, yet again, is Russells very fine delivery as a vocalist: equal parts crooner and soul-shouter. There can be no doubt that he possesses a mastery of his vocal instrument which conveys an emotional sincerity with each phrase, each lyrical turn. And, not unlike a primary influence, Van Morrison, he navigates the sound of his words with a rhythmic precision and melodic expression akin to jazz improvisation. Then theres his guitar playing, which Blues Revue likened to the fearlessness of Jeff Beck.
The Austin, Texas based, self-described, "contemporary jazz troubadour" has always been a genre-blurring artist and Carry It Up is no exception. As a lyricist, Woody digs deep in to intimate narratives and is equally comfortable addressing a broader social consciousness. An amalgam of contemporary jazz and classic R&B buzzes at the core of Carry It Up, shaded by a hint of rock and soul. His sophisticated compositions are supported by narratives that dive deep in to the heart of the spiritual, the romantic and the soul-searcher. There is a timeless quality to Russell's music, but he is a performer who is very clearly in the moment. On this album, he has for the first time, recorded a cover song; a sincere acoustic take of Marvin Gayes chestnut Whats Going On that focuses on the poignant message of the lyric. It features the tenor sax of Chi-town transplant, Dez Desormeaux, and is right at home amid the rest of this original work. The end result with Carry It Up is a lush recording that is positively brimming with superb song craft, gutsy pop-jazz and soul, created by a master craftsman and his world class band.
"Woody Russell is the consummate singer/songwriter, and one of the most believable
lyricists and storytellers Ive heard in quite some time." - Jazz Quarterly
A NORTH-COUNTRY KID
Growing up near a small Montana college town, Woody lays claim to a "magical childhood" in which a rural setting provided inspiration that still resonates with him today. "I grew up in a beautiful, peaceful place that was a blessing to have experienced as a child and that I have a lot of fond memories of. We lived on a dirt road. The smell of fresh cut alfalfa hung in the air. We watched the sun set from the front porch. I wondered at an infinitely starlit night sky, dreaming, pondering the bigger questions. I'd pedal my bike up and down that road, fish and float the creek behind my house in the summer time. We hiked the mountains. I learned to ski in some of the best snow conditions in the world. My childhood held a deep connection to the outdoors. I was, essentially, a north-country kid. And when the guitar came along - a gift my sister didn't take to - I found it so fascinating. Exploring the instrument brought me closer to my inner world. Music was just always there, every bit as much as the nature of Montana, of Big Sky Country."
But, there was a darker side, as well: parents that split up when he was ten years old and eventually his own struggles with substance abuse as a teenager. "I had some crazy years, took a lot of risks." Russell credits his mother for instilling some resolve that helped him make a much needed change. "She taught me, through her own actions, about compassion, kindness and self reliance. She allowed my creativity to guide me. I think she cultivated a quiet perseverance in us. I knew, even as a child, that she was just managing to hold it together by working hard, believing and hoping that my sister and I would grow in to the lives we wanted to lead." Woody adds that his mother gave him the courage to move out of the house in his late teens and eventually leave Montana behind by the time he was just barely twenty. "I followed the music to Seattle when the opportunity came. That departure put an end to a lot of the trouble I was headed for, undoubtedly. My mother probably new that; as mother's do have a sixth sense about their children's well-being. My love for the music, a good bit a naivety and sheer willpower made for a new beginning. It still feels like a new beginning today. That's the beauty of living a creative life. There's a ever-present sense of uncertainty, but also an unmistakable newness to it."
From a new home base in a city that offered much more culture and opportunity, a young Woody Russell began to connect with a larger community of musicians. He was, as he is now, always pursuing his own brand of music. "Being in Seattle was a first a bit scary for a country kid. But, it put me in touch with a music scene that forced me to find my way and hone my chops. I was never really interested in learning a lot of songs that were often seen as important to know by some of the older cats who were on the scene. So I made it harder on myself by avoiding those lessons. At that time, for me, it was a lot of blues-rock and some folky songwriters that I was in to, but my love for jazz was ever present. It was evolving from early on; I just didn't know how to connect the dots yet. I was lucky to know some great musicians who instilled some important lessons in me. Eventually though, I had to make my own way toward understanding how all of these seemingly different styles would inform my own music."
Fast forward to an eventual move to Austin with his, then, new wife, Jeanne. "Austin is a major music scene, with it's own ups and downs, it's own cliche's, but a potent community of genuinely gifted musicians." Woody Russell is now several albums and, in his own words, "light years" beyond the music of his earliest efforts. "I'm a late bloomer, I suspect, and perhaps I've always been an old soul. I've had to carve out my own niche because I simply didn't come to music through school or a more formal musical upbringing. It was purely a matter of heart and soul and raw discovery. Music was a language that spoke deeply to me as a kid and eventually became a passionate outlet, an identity and almost a forgone conclusion that I'd spend my life dedicated to this art-form."
"TRANSCENDENT"
Woody takes to the road throughout the U.S frequently. His live performances, whether solo or with his full band, have been described as "transcendent" by KDRP radio personality, David Arnsberger; engaging audiences through a sincere and "in the moment" connection to his music. Critically praised as an "exemplary" guitarist, an exceptional singer and songwriter of the highest caliber - a "total artist package", Woody Russell delivers seasoned performances with over twenty-five years as a professional musician to his credit. Respected music industry veteran and President of BE Music and Entertainment, Michael Blanton, calls him "one of the best kept secrets in the world of live performance today."
THE WR TRIO
The touring Woody Russell Trio features two Austin based A-list musicians from the Carry It Up sessions: Lloyd Gil Wright on piano/synths and jazz/blues harmonica virtuoso, Jose Ruiz. The Trio format has been developing over the course of several tours, employing the use of electronics and percussion in an aim to further the possibilities within the context of a small group.
TEXAS TOURING ROSTER ARTIST
Woody Russell is an officially recognized artist of the Texas Commission on the Arts Texas Touring Roster. Texas Touring Roster artists have been deemed the best in their field by a panel of statewide experts. Support may be available to assist with booking fees through the Arts Respond Performance Support grant program. This quarterly program provides support to Texas schools, libraries, and nonprofit organizations for hiring an artist from the TCA Touring Roster to give a performance, residency, or workshop. These applications are funded based on a sliding scale ranging from 30% to 50% of contracted fees. Support is based on TCAs available funds. (Contact TCA at 512/463-5535 for more information)
TELEVISION
Woody Russell was a prominently featured artist on Season One of the CW Network's, "Troubadour, TX"; airing weekly in over 20 million households nationwide from Sept. 2011 through Sept. 2012. He also toured as one of four artists chosen to represent the program.
The show has since shifted focus to the Texas country music scene exclusively. It has also been reformatted to a half-hour program. The TTX website will continue to host all videos and interviews from Season One. You can find many excerpts from WR's appearances on the program on the Video page of this site.
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LocationDyson House Listening Room (View)
7575 Jefferson Hwy.
Baton Rouge, LA 70809
United States
Categories
| Kid Friendly: Yes! |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: Yes! |
| Wheelchair Accessible: Yes! |
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