Russ Macklem

Russ Macklem is a Windsor/Detroit based trumpet player, composer, educator, and recording artist. His 2023 debut release, The South Detroit Connection, was nominated for a JUNO-award, and was the first live album recorded in Windsor in over 22 years (at Phog Lounge), the last having been recorded by Detroit trumpet legend, Marcus Belgrave at the Capitol Theatre. Belgrave’s son, saxophonist/flautist Kasan Belgrave is featured both on the album, and in Russ’ new Quintet. The new Russ Macklem Detroit Quintet makes their debut at the 2024 Detroit Jazz Festival.

As a leader, Russ can be heard with his quintet every first Friday of the month at MotorCity Wine in Corktown (Detroit), and other venues around the Midwest throughout the year. As a sideman, Russ has played with a diverse array of artists including Amp Fiddler, Dave Holland, The Marley Bros (Bob Marley’s sons), Cecil McBee, Frankie Valli, Dave Liebman, Bobby Rydell, Frankie Avalon, and many others.

Russ earned his Doctor of Musical Arts while studying at the University of Miami Frost School of Music where he was on full-tuition scholarship and Teaching Assistant to Grammy-Award-winning trumpet player Brian Lynch. At New England Conservatory in Boston, Russ earned his Master’s of Music with Honors while studying with Jerry Bergonzi, George Garzone, Cecil McBee, Bob Moses, and John McNeil. Russ earned his Bachelor of Music from McGill University where he studied with Kevin Dean, Jocelyn Couture, Joe Sullivan, and Remi Bolduc.

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