Long regarded as one of Australia’s finest accompanists and jazz pianists, Steve Russell has appeared with James Morrison, Katie Noonan, Kristen Berardi and James Sherlock among others, and performed support gigs for Wynton Marsalis and John Scofield.
As well as teaching at the Jazz Music Institute (Brisbane) and Southern Cross University (Lismore), Steve also moonlights in blues band The Bella Reunion.
2015 for Steve Russell… you seem to have a lot in the works with live shows, your teaching, playing with other bands etc. Do you like to keep busy musically?
This year has been very busy so far. Apart from keeping the bills paid, I love performing and I’m passionate about teaching, and I enjoy the constant variety.
As a musician, do you still surprise yourself with things you learn?
It’s no surprise when I’m constantly throwing myself into new situations, learning new repertoires and ways to manage them at the piano.
How do you maintain your passion for music?
Without even trying… I think it’s hard-wired into my being.
What is it about playing music that genuinely makes you excited?
I think it’s sharing the extra-sensory communication with musicians, and the feelings it inspires in audiences. Possibly also the obligation to be completely transparent on stage. You can’t really hide anything or present a false front.
Aside from your music playing, you also teach keys and piano at JMI in Brisbane and SCU in Lismore… do these roles help to keep you tuned to younger musicians/ trends etc?
I’m always learning from my students. They turn me on to stuff I would likely never find by myself.
You must spend a fair bit of time on the road travelling then; who do you have playing in the car stereo?
ABC Radio National or the BBC World Service mostly, unless one of those rare recordings comes along that I can listen to on repeat. Past examples are Bill Charlap, Don Grolnick’s Blue Note recordings, Joni Mitchell’s 'Both Sides Now', Thelonious Monk Quartet's 'Live At The It Club'.
The role of educator… do you enjoy imparting your wisdom to the next generation?
Perhaps it’s a stretch to call it wisdom, but whatever it is, I’m absolutely thrilled when somebody gets it and start to fly on their own.
With programmes like 'Treme' re-introducing jazz to younger audiences, do you sense the genre is about to experience a mainstream rebirth?
No. Jazz hasn’t been mainstream since the '40s. There will always be a small but dedicated audience. Even the great things that bring the genre into the light occasionally, the Bubles and Kralls, don’t really draw attention to the cutting-edge jazz artists or to the great innovators of the past. No one is going to hear Diana Krall for the first time, and race out to buy a Hank Jones CD as a result.
What would be your ultimate jazz collaboration (living or dead)?
I can’t answer that.
Do you have any recording projects in the works?
None of my own presently, but we have recently completed a recording with Jack Thorncraft, produced and drummed on by David Sanders and recorded at Jim Kelly’s studio near Lismore. I’m really happy with it and can’t wait to release and tour it.
For the upcoming Brisbane Jazz Club show, you have a young, Brisbane guitarist, Trav Jenkins, playing with you; how did you guys cross paths?
Trav was an outstanding student at JMI, graduating in 2013. He has a unique and raw approach, and the wits and chops to cope with my complicated composing. While we’re talking about the band, can I mention bassist Greg Lyon, once of the mighty Crossfire band from Sydney and now a blessing to any who get to play with him in northern NSW/ SE Queensland, and drummer Scott Hills, an incredibly versatile and creative musician who isn’t so frequently associated with the word jazz, but should be.
After a rock or hip hop show, you can see the musicians are physically exhausted by set's end; by session's end, are most jazz musicians spent forces?
We don’t run around under hot lights like those guys. We just sit or stand and devote all our energy to playing – it’s a different sort of showbiz. That said, you might be surprised at how athletic an endeavour playing an instrument well is.
You also play with The Bella Reunion; how different are the two groups?
Worlds apart. The Bella Reunion is an authentic blues band. I have to be careful not to play what they call my ‘expensive’ chords, but that doesn’t preclude my contributing my creativity to the whole. They are blues specialists, and I’m something of a novice, but they still let me play.
The Steve Russell Quartet play Brisbane Jazz Club 23 May.
