Performance

Forty-plus years of professional bass playing that covers touring, recording, jam sessions, and pickup work across jazz, blues, R&B, soul, swing, Latin, and fusion. Currently based in Boynton Beach, Florida and performing across the state.

What Russ Brings

Versatile bass voice that fits the room, from quartet jazz dates to blues and Latin sessions to swing. Equally comfortable in small-combo recording sessions and clinic / educational settings. Russ has performed and recorded with a wide range of national and local artists; see the full list on the credits page.

Where Russ Has Played

Russ built his career in Atlanta. He founded the Bass Program at the Atlanta Institute of Music in 1985 and spent close to three decades on the city's jazz and session scene, including eight years as the house bassist for the Ritz Carlton Jazz Trio and studio work on national radio and television spots. In 2014 he moved to the Washington DC area and freelanced across DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia for twelve years. In 2026 he relocated to South Florida, where he now performs across the region.

Recording Credits

Studio recordings on the discography page span blues, jazz, swing, and Latin projects (a partial selection; Russ has played on more recordings over the years that aren't surfaced here). See the discography for streamable tracks, and the credits page for the broader list of national and local artists he's shared the bandstand with.

Live Performances

A small selection from a much larger catalog of live performance footage.

More of both on the channel: the Jazz Performances playlist and the Blues playlist.

Looking To Connect With

Established bandleaders, recording session work, clinics, and projects with serious players across South Florida. If you've heard the videos and the discography and want to talk about a specific project, reach out directly:

Performance Pictures

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