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theses

Luis Russell was a pioneering pianist, orchestra leader, arranger, and composer, and a seminal figure in the creation of both jazz and swing. Russell became a pivotal player in a succession of musical milieus; from cabarets and casinos in Colon, Panama, to early 1920’s New Orleans small groups, to large black Orchestras and middle size recording ensembles in mid 1920’s Chicago, to leading his own Orchestra in late 1920’s New York City, to moving the New Orleans polyphonic style forward into propulsive swing arrangements with his Orchestras of 1928-1935, to directing one of the most successful Big Bands of the Swing Era, billed as Louis Armstrong and His Orchestra, which was Louis Armstrong fronting The Luis Russell Orchestra, from 1935 into the 1940s, to having his leadership stripped and becoming merely the piano player with Louis Armstrong and His Orchestra as it embraced muscular Swing charts under the direction of Joe Garland from 1940-1943, to creating a new Luis Russell Orchestra for the era of jump blues, Rhythm n’ Blues, Bebop, and crooning vocalists, from 1944-1950.
Luis Russell might be the most important figure in the history of jazz, that you’ve perhaps never heard of. He may lay claim to an odd achievement; gaining great visibility during the three decades he was musically active (the 1920’s through the 1940’s), while being reduced to invisibility today. Until now, there has never been a full length biographical treatment of Luis Russell. With an extensive family archive at my disposal, Luis Russell’s story will be told from an insider’s perspective, attempting to demystify and debunk some of what’s already been written. At the heart of the story are Luis Russell’s collaborations and friendship with his musical pal, Louis Armstrong. Their collaborations are among the foremost pinnacles of Louis Armstrong’s career.

ETD_8964

M.A.

Includes bibliographical references

by Paul N. Kahn

doi:10.7282/t3-nj27-yh17

ETD graduate

The author owns the copyright to this work.