Photo Credit: John Watson
New York native Catherine Russell performed in London for the first time at Dean Street Pizza Express on the final night of this year’s EG London Jazz Festival, bringing to a close more than fifty gigs in their three London venues. Russell is the daughter of Panama-born Luis Russell (1902-1963), legendary pianist and bandleader and most notably the long-time musical director for Louis Armstrong. Her mother was well-known singer, Carline Ray. And in most interviews she is asked about her work with Steely Dan and Donald Fagen from the 1990s onwards, and with David Bowie in 2002-4.
She brought her drummer-less trio of piano, guitar and bass to promote songs from her most recent release on Dot Time, Send for Me. She’s also been nominated for 2 Grammy Awards for her albums Harlem on My Mind and Alone Together.