About Russ Spiegel (Bio):
Russ Spiegel was born in Los Angeles, and raised in Santa Monica, California. Coming from a musical family - his grandfather was a classical violinist who played with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and various studio orchestras while his brother won the prestigious “Battle of the Bands†at the Hollywood Bowl in 1969 - Music has always played a prominent role in his life.
Not originally intending on a musical career, Russ played in various groups while at high school and university. However, after completing his Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Michigan, where he majored in Philosophy, on a whim he applied to the Berklee College of Music in Boston, and was promptly awarded a “Professional Music Scholarship.†There, at the age of 24, Russ decided to study music seriously for the first time. While at Berklee he studied Composition, Arranging and Guitar Performance. Later he went on to get his Masters degree in Jazz Performance at the City College of New York, under the aegis of John Pattitucci and private studies with Ben Monder, Adam Rogers and Paul Bollenback.
Since coming to New York in 2001, Russ has been very busy on the scene. Playing in numerous groups such as Bill Warfield’s Big Band and the Harlem Renaissance Orchestra - from solo guitar to his sextet to running his own big band, The Russ Spiegel Big Band (a 17-piece jazz orchestra featuring Russ's compositions and arrangements as well as his guitar playing) - Russ has established himself as a performer and teacher, composer and arranger in the greater New York area. He is also involved in television, being the guitar and music coach for the hit Nickelodeon TV show "The Naked Brothers Band."
Russ has worked many years with German jazz organist Barbara Dennerlein (Nr.1 TDWR Downbeat), and with his own projects: “Russ Spiegel’s Big Bad Big Band,†the Russ Spiegel Trio, Quartet, Sextet and a variety of Soul, R&B and other Jazz-related groups. His CD
Twilight (Double Moon/Challenge) received rave reviews in Europe and was Audiophile Tip of the Month in the German magazine stereoplay (02/02). His most recent CD
Chimera on the SteepleChase label received a warm reception by jazz critics. In the words of Troy Collins in "All About Jazz," "Spiegel's sextet demonstrates an all-embracing concept….Channeling the spirited energy of hard-bop with the progressive aesthetics of rock music, Spiegel carves out his own niche in the contemporary jazz scene."
Russ has performed hundreds of concerts in America, Europe and India, has appeared at dozens of Jazz and Blues Festivals, and been on Radio and Television numerous times.In March, 1999, Russ was awarded by the city of Frankfurt its “Jazz Scholarship†prize of DM10,000.00 and in October of that year appeared with his own 17-piece big band at the Frankfurt Jazz Festival, Europe’s oldest and most renowned festival of its kind.
Look for Russ's new CD
Chimera on the SteepleChase label - out now!
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PRESS QUOTES:
"Spiegel's new CD Chimera on Steeplechase is flat out a winner! ...Spiegel and friends just plain shine on what will clearly be one of the best guitar jazz releases of 2007."
-Steve Caputo,
Inside Connection"Channeling the spirited energy of hard-bop with the progressive aesthetics of rock music, Spiegel carves out his own niche in the contemporary jazz scene."
-Troy Collins,
All About Jazz"Intellectual to the core, melodic and elegant, [Spiegel's] music will engage and challenge you at the same time."
-Ed Blanco,
EJazzNews"A killer guitarist that’s simply welcome all over the world, Spiegel lays it down without pretense or drama and lets his clean lines and solid playing provide all the drama and dynamic tension non-smooth jazz should have."
-Chris Spector,
Midwest Record"Spiegel plays with a clear, bright sound and his solos reveal a sure-footed rhythmic instinct and a harmonic sense which may be rooted in bebop but which also leans towards the future."
-Charles Alexander,
Jazzwise (London)
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For gigs, arrangements, teaching or just to get in contact with Russ, write him at:
[email protected]
