Bill Russell and the New Orleans Jazz Revival

Ray Smith [+–]

Musician and writer

Ray Smith is a jazz musician and writer. He studied with the British jazz pianist Ray Foxley in the mid-1950s and the American jazz pianist Don Ewell in the 1970s. He has recorded extensively as band-pianist and soloist.

Mike Pointon [+–]

Musician and writer

Mike Pointon is a jazz musician, writer and broadcaster. He co-authored Goin’ Home: The Uncompromising Life and Music of Ken Colyer with Ray Smith. He presented the acclaimed BBC Radio 3 series Bunk and Bill.

Awarded BEST HISTORICAL RESEARCH IN RECORDED JAZZ: Best History
in The Association for Recorded Sound Collections Awards for Excellence 2019

This is the first full-length book about Bill Russell´s life that is largely ´in his own words´. It is based on personal interviews conducted with Russell about the diversity of his life´s work, interspersed with views and anecdotes from his friends and associates written especially for the book, together with archive material and a wealth of photos. These sources are woven together to give a portrait of an extremely talented, modest man who forsook an academic career to become a champion of the music and musicians of New Orleans.

Series: Popular Music History

Preliminaries

Acknowledgements [+–] viii-ix

Ray Smith,Mike Pointon

Musician and writer

Born in 1905, Bill Russell demonstrated diverse musical interests from an early age. Having been a contemporary of John Cage, Henry Cowell and Lou Harrison amongst others, his significance as a percussion composer is well known amongst aficionados. His work as a musicologist of New Orleans jazz music is equally acclaimed. He became the first Curator of the newly formed Tulane Jazz Archives at New Orleans in 1958. He was a major figure in the development of the revival of interest in the music of that City, notably from his recordings of trumpet player Bunk Johnson in the 1940s.This is the first full-length book about Mr. Russell´s life to be largely ´in his own words´. The book is based largely on personal interviews conducted with Russell about the great diversity of his life´s work, interspersed with views and anecdotes about him from his friends and associates written especially for the book, together with archival material. These sources are woven together to give a portrait of an extremely talented, modest man who forsook an academic career to become a champion of the music and musicians of New Orleans.

Foreword [+–] x-xi

George Avakian

Introductions [+–] xii-xiv

Ray Smith,Mike Pointon

Musician and writer

Prelude: Bill Russell’s family background and childhood, by his brother William F. Wagner [+–] xv-xviii

William F. Wagner

Fugue [+–] 1-36

Ray Smith,Mike Pointon

Musician and writer

Covers the years from 1905 to 1937. Bill Russell talks about his education and early days teaching music, his percussion compositions and association with Henry Cowell, Arnold Schoenberg and Gerald Strang; also his work as a percussionist specializing in Chinese music and his early interest in collecting jazz records, which was to lead to his work as a discographer and historian. First visit to New Orleans.

Chicago Sketches [+–] 37-71

Ray Smith,Mike Pointon

Musician and writer

Beginning in 1938, Bill began his career as a writer specializing in jazz music. First piece for Hugues Panassié on boogie-woogie piano music. He talks about his research into early jazz musicians’ lives for the book Jazzmen. Interviews Louis Armstrong for first discography of Louis, and his meeting with John Cage and Merce Cunningham.

Jelly Roll [+–] 72-102

Ray Smith,Mike Pointon

Musician and writer

One of the musicians whose music Bill was passionate about was the New Orleans pianist Ferd Jelly Roll Morton. In this chapter Bill discusses Morton’s career, and his extensive research into his life.

Trumpet Concerto [+–] 103-138

Ray Smith,Mike Pointon

Musician and writer

Bill’s search for New Orleans trumpet player Bunk Johnson and the beginnings of his recording career.

American Music [+–] 139-170

Ray Smith,Mike Pointon

Musician and writer

Bill starts recording in New Orleans. The classic “Climax” recording session. The beginnings of Bill’s record label, and further discussion of his research and interviews. Comparing styles of other New Orleans trumpet players such as Tommy Ladnier, Freddie Keppard and others.

Bunk`s Blues [+–] 171-200

Ray Smith,Mike Pointon

Musician and writer

This chapter traces much of the rest of Bunk Johnson’s career.

Last Testament [+–] 201-210

Ray Smith,Mike Pointon

Musician and writer

Bunk’s final recordings and demise, plus further recordings for the American Music label.

Chicago Breakdown [+–] 211-228

Ray Smith,Mike Pointon

Musician and writer

Bill’s move to Chicago in 1950 and an account by John Steiner of his friendship and work with Mahalia Jackson, and the events that led to his decision to move to New Orleans in 1956.

New Orleans Joys [+–] 229-261

Ray Smith,Mike Pointon

Musician and writer

A portrait of Bill´s record shop in New Orleans by his friends and colleagues (author Ralph Collins, trumpet player Charlie DeVore, and fellow jazz authority and musician Doc Souchon), and the beginnings of the Tulane Jazz Archive.

New Orleans Style [+–] 262-293

Ray Smith,Mike Pointon

Musician and writer

Bill’s proposed book of the same name, plus further reminiscences by historian Dick Allen, Charlie DeVore, clarinetists Orange Kellin and Brian O’Connell, trumpet player Clive Wilson, Ralph Collins, and pianist Lars Edegran.

Made In America [+–] 294-302

Ray Smith,Mike Pointon

Musician and writer

The title of one of Bill’s compositions, which was performed at a concert of his work; Bill’s brother writes about the concert, with a final word from Bill Russell on the future of New Orleans music.

End Matter

Bill Russell’s Legacy [+–] 303-307

Alfred E. Lemmon,Ray Smith,Mike Pointon

Musician and writer

Summary

Notes [+–] 308-311

Ray Smith,Mike Pointon

Musician and writer

Who’s Who [+–] 312-321

Ray Smith,Mike Pointon

Musician and writer

Index [+–] 322-335

Ray Smith

Musician and writer

Born in 1905, Bill Russell demonstrated diverse musical interests from an early age. A contemporary of John Cage, Henry Cowell and Lou Harrison, his significance as a percussion composer is well known among aficionados and his work as a musicologist of New Orleans jazz music is equally acclaimed. He was a major figure in the revival of interest in the music of that city, notably from his recordings of trumpet player Bunk Johnson in the 1940s. He became the first curator of the Tulane Jazz Archives when they were established in 1958. This is the first full-length book about Bill Russell´s life that is largely ´in his own words´. It is based on personal interviews conducted with Russell about the diversity of his life´s work, interspersed with views and anecdotes from his friends and associates written especially for the book, together with archive material and a wealth of photos. These sources are woven together to give a portrait of an extremely talented, modest man who forsook an academic career to become a champion of the music and musicians of New Orleans.

Reviews

[The authors] are gifted interviewers.
Jazz Journal

Straight off – let me say that I think this book is wonderful, simply wonderful... Too often, major superlatives are applied to relatively minor achievements in the documentation of all strains of American Roots Music – but with a book such as this, a reviewer’s hackneyed final words of ‘essential’ ‘recommended’ or even ‘highly recommended’ seem somehow totally inadequate. So I’ll boldly go further and conclude that absolutely anyone with the faintest interest in Jazz, New Orleans born or otherwise, or any keeper of the printed word interested in the brilliant and fascinating spoken words and wisdom of an equally brilliant and fascinating man should get a copy of this book – it will probably be the best of it’s kind you’ll ever own. OTT? I don't think so.
Vintage Jazz Mart

Well worth the wait. ...Fascinating photos, quite a few previously unpublished... Filled with new information and fascinating recollections by Russell of his conversations and experiences with early jazz players. This is a very important addition to the jazz literature and is worthy of the highest recommendation.
Just Jazz

How can anyone review this masterpiece? These interviews of Russell are transcribed directly from the recordings, inevitably resulting in occasional repetition in his anecdotes, but the overall effect allows the reader to almost hear the man himself talking.... A homage to Bill Russell, the book builds a picture of this complex man by interspersing other interviews, recollections, articles, program notes, and photographs, and adding reminiscences by many of us who knew him or benefitted directly from his selfless efforts on our behalf, including George Avakian, his brother William Wagner, Frederic Ramsey, Jr., Mahalia Jackson, Doc Souchon, Lars Edegran and Dick Allen. Sadly, the authors were too late to obtain contributions from John Cage and Alan Lomax.
Clive Wilson, OffBeat Magazine

For anyone who is interested in the resurgence of interest in New Orleans jazz from the late 1930s on this book is a must read. In reading it I found a great similarity to talking with Bill Russell in person where he would answer questions with multiple diversions, all of considerable interest, making you wish that you had a tape recorder turned on at the time. It is a book that is packed with information and one that I can recommend to any interested party.
Charlie Crump, Hot News

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Books and Journals in Humanities, Social Science and Performing Arts

Bill Russell and the New Orleans Jazz Revival

Ray Smith [+–]

Musician and writer

Mike Pointon [+–]

Musician and writer

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