[Dixielandjazz] Jonathan Russell (full article)

[David Richoux]

Sacramento Jazz Jubilee: Youthful feats (and feet)

Violinist, 12, part of bid to spotlight young performers

By Bobby Caina Calvan - Bee Staff Writer


Leave it to a 12-year-old violinist to play a bit of mischief on the  
stages of Sacramento's Jazz Jubilee -- more specifically, injecting  
unexpected strains of Mario Brothers arcade music into a classic  
Sonny Rollins jazz piece.

On another stage Saturday, he pluckishly improvised -- using the Lone  
Ranger's theme to send surprise and appreciative giggles through a  
mostly graying crowd at the Sacramento Convention Center.

"Sometimes, no one gets the joke," said the wunderkind, Jonathan  
Russell, who doesn't sample music, he "quotes" it.

He's been performing since he could remember. Maybe he was 5, or  
maybe he was 6 -- "I don't really remember. At first, I didn't really  
understand what was going on," he said, giving the woman sitting next  
to him, Eve Weiss, a glance to help jog his memory."I'm his mom,  
agent -- what the hell -- same thing," Weiss interjected.

"At 2 1/2 , I put a violin under his chin and he had such a huge  
smile on his face," said Weiss, a classical guitarist. "He just  
latched on to the violin."

Jonathan also plays viola, piano, mandolin, clarinet, African drums  
and recorder, a flutelike woodwind instrument.

He also plays video games -- though a one-hour limit is vigorously  
enforced, and he's barred from using a gamepad (a joystick's OK) to  
keep his nimble fingers from being damaged and to keep them limber  
for the violin strings.

He has a full slate of performances today, including a 10 a.m.  
appearance with the Mighty Aphrodite Jazz Band, a youthful all-female  
group, before returning home to the Bronx in New York City.

"I love performing. I don't think there's anything I don't like about  
it," said Jonathan.

He was to play the jubilee last year, but pulled out when he injured  
an arm.

"I'm so excited we have him this year," said Jill Harper, the  
executive director of the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society, which  
puts on the four-day event that continues today and Monday with  
performances at nearly three dozen venues in Old Sacramento and the  
city's downtown.

Among the 105 acts playing at the 34th annual jubilee, 15 are youth  
bands -- part of a push by event organizers to raise a new generation  
of jazz performers.

"I'm very excited to be giving these young people the opportunities  
to break into the circuit," Harper said.

"This is our mission: to preserve and promote traditional jazz."

Jonathan -- who considers the beat of hip-hop and rap too monotonous  
-- says he's up for the challenge. Traditional jazz, he said, "is  
sort of dying out."

And perhaps so is its audience. He's accustomed to playing to older  
audiences.

"I'm used to it," he said. "I've played at nursing homes before --  
you won't find any young kids in there."


On May 28, 2007, at 8:41 AM, Robert S. Ringwald wrote:

> Hey Steve, How about posting the article by jonathan for those of  
> us who can't get registered at the Sac Bee, for some reason.
>
> --Bob Ringwald
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Steve Barbone"  
> <barbonestreet at earthlink.net>
> To: "Bob Ringwald" <robert at ringwald.com>
> Cc: "Dixieland Jazz Mailing List" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
> Sent: Sunday, May 27, 2007 2:10 PM
> Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Jonathan Russell
>
>
>> David Richoux <tubaman at tubatoast.com> (polite snip)
>>
>>> Here is a link to an article in the Sacramento Bee about Jonathan:
>>> http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/195525.html
>>
>> Thanks for that post David. The article is viewable w/o registering.
>>
>> Good to see "J" get some press. And good to hear from several list  
>> mates off
>> list that he was sensational.
>>
>> And why not? He has previously impressed numerous jazz violinists  
>> including
>> Andy Stein, Regina Carter, Johnny Frigo, Swend Assmuson, as well  
>> as jazz
>> masters like Dick Hyman, Kenny Davern, Tony DiNicola and countless  
>> others.
>>
>> He is also a joy to work with and any bands interested in getting  
>> some
>> attention on the festival circuit would be well advised to include  
>> him in
>> their program. He is also a natural for school programs and would  
>> be quite
>> an attraction at IAJE functions/concerts. Of course they'd have to  
>> waive
>> their membership requirement but why should that be a problem?
>>
>> For those on the East Coast, you can see him in NYC frequently at  
>> Arthur's
>> Tavern and sometimes at the Blue Note or Iridium. Check his  
>> schedule by
>> googling "Jonathan Jazz Russell"
>>
>> Or come see him with Barbone Street at Tubman Garrett Park on the  
>> Riverfront
>> in Wilmington DE on July 4th, 6:30 PM. Then stay for the firework  
>> display,
>> having dinner at Harry's Seafood Restaurant and watch from there.
>>
>> Or see him with us afternoons on September 8th and 9th at the Laurels
>> International Combine Driving Event in West Grove PA. A Great Fall  
>> Festival
>> of Horse and Carriages, Antique Cars, Dog Agility Trials, Boutique  
>> Shopping,
>> and some fine Dixieland Jazz wafting over the show grounds.
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Steve
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>>
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>>
>
>
>
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