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George Russell
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George Russell (born 1923 in Cincinnati) is a jazz composer, theorist, conductor, and drummer who was the primary force behind the creation of modal jazz.
Russell was a drummer in Benny Carter’s band in the early 1940s; he was replaced by Max Roach and, after hearing Roach play, decided to give up drumming. He moved to New York, and was one of a group of musicians who met in the apartment of Gil Evans (these included Miles Davis, Gerry Mulligan, Max Roach, Johnny Carisi and sometimes Charlie Parker. In 1947, Russell was commissioned to write a piece for Dizzy Gillespie’s orchestra; he wrote Cubano Be/Cubano Bop which was the first fusion of Afro-Cuban rhythms with jazz.
Russell’s big breakthrough came while he was hospitalized for tuberculosis for 16 months in the early 1950s. Russell had asked Miles Davis what his musical goals where, and Davis replied “to learn all of the changes”. Since Miles obviously already knew all the chord changes, Russell took this to mean that he wanted a new way to relate to chords. The result was The Lydian Chromatic Concept of Tonal Organization, first published in 1953, which opened the way for modal jazz such as Kind of Blue. Russell’s Lydian Chromatic theory is a major piece of music theory which has had a significant impact on music both within and outside of jazz.
Russell led several influential groups during 1950s, 60s, and 70s, which included Bill Evans, Bob Brookmeyer, John Coltrane, Eric Dolphy, Jan Garbarek, Terje Rypdal, and many others.
Russell was a drummer in Benny Carter’s band in the early 1940s; he was replaced by Max Roach and, after hearing Roach play, decided to give up drumming. He moved to New York, and was one of a group of musicians who met in the apartment of Gil Evans (these included Miles Davis, Gerry Mulligan, Max Roach, Johnny Carisi and sometimes Charlie Parker. In 1947, Russell was commissioned to write a piece for Dizzy Gillespie’s orchestra; he wrote Cubano Be/Cubano Bop which was the first fusion of Afro-Cuban rhythms with jazz.
Russell’s big breakthrough came while he was hospitalized for tuberculosis for 16 months in the early 1950s. Russell had asked Miles Davis what his musical goals where, and Davis replied “to learn all of the changes”. Since Miles obviously already knew all the chord changes, Russell took this to mean that he wanted a new way to relate to chords. The result was The Lydian Chromatic Concept of Tonal Organization, first published in 1953, which opened the way for modal jazz such as Kind of Blue. Russell’s Lydian Chromatic theory is a major piece of music theory which has had a significant impact on music both within and outside of jazz.
Russell led several influential groups during 1950s, 60s, and 70s, which included Bill Evans, Bob Brookmeyer, John Coltrane, Eric Dolphy, Jan Garbarek, Terje Rypdal, and many others.
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Ezz-Thetics
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New York, N.Y.
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The Jazz Workshop
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Top Tracks
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Nardis
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A Helluva Town (SA-RA "Go" Remix)
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A Helluva Town
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Au Privave
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Shoutbox
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adistu wrote:
so underrated. such great music.
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serv2r wrote:
rest in peace my good man
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gouldgirl wrote:
Brilliant jazz theorist and definitely ahead of his time. RIP.
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twisted_finger wrote:
rip
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nnEEKolas wrote:
Very ahead of his time and a bold experimenter!
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teurgoulle wrote:
Le théoricien du système lydien. Le jazz de la 2nde moitié du 20ème siècle doit beaucoup à ses recherches.
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The_Pear wrote:
Amazing!
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HolyHardcore wrote:
this is so great. i love it
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Recent Activity
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lokilokust and 4 other people added George Russell to their libraries. 3 hours ago
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casadegus tagged George Russell with bebop, free jazz and avant-garde. 23 days ago
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casadegus and Montanapoodle added George Russell to their libraries. 23 days ago
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PappaWheelie tagged George Russell with ‘modal jazz’. 27 days ago
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Morngrim tagged George Russell with avant-garde, free jazz and jazz. 27 days ago
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Morngrim added George Russell to Morngrim’s library. 27 days ago
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Fryer7 tagged George Russell with ‘jazz’. last month
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and 8 other people added George Russell to their libraries. last month
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foocault tagged George Russell with ‘jazz’. September 2009
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chichobazz, fullerbucky, cesarmika and 1 other person added George Russell to their libraries. September 2009
Related Journals
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Chosen records I: 1950s
by samueljeronimo |
14 Aug 2009 | 2 comments
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George Russell broadcast
by Uhwelluh |
22 Feb 2009 | Add comment
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for KBRP
by Uhwelluh |
11 Feb 2008 | Add comment
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