Catherine Russell – vocals
Matt Munisteri – guitar
Tal Ronen – bass
Born into musical aristocracy – daughter of jazz luminary Luis Russell (Louis Armstrong’s longtime musical director) and pioneering multi-instrumentalist Carline Ray – Grammy-winning vocalist Catherine Russell embodies jazz heritage while continuously redefining its contemporary expression. A graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, her distinguished career lists over 200 album appearances with icons such as David Bowie and Steely Dan, seven acclaimed solo albums, including two Grammy-nominated works – Harlem On My Mind and Alone Together; as well as a 2012 Grammy win for HBO’s Boardwalk Empire soundtrack.
Russell’s artistry merges technical brilliance with profound emotional intelligence, earning praise from The Wall Street Journal as “one of the outstanding singers of our time.” Her 2023 collaborations – spanning Sarah Jarosz’s Americana to Wynton Marsalis’s jazz historiography – demonstrate unparalleled versatility. Russell’s interpretations transform standards into revelatory experiences, balancing scholarly respect for source material with daring improvisational spirit.
At Bansko Jazz Festival, she is going to perform alongside Matt Munisteri (guitar) and Tal Ronen (bass), promising an intimate yet powerful exploration of jazz standards and original repertoire. This trio configuration highlights Russell’s ability to balance big-band grandeur with stripped-down musical dialogues, showcasing why she remains a vital force in 21st-century jazz.