Russell Hall

Biography
Articles

Russell Hall is an award winning double bassist from Kingston, Jamaica. He was introduced to jazz at the Dillard Center for the Arts directed by Christopher Dorsey. He continued his studies with master bassists Ron Carter and Ben Wolfe at The Juilliard School in New York City. He has been blessed to work with legends such as Edward Norton, Kathleen Battle, Wynton and Branford Marsalis, Barry Harris, Wayne Shorter, Roy Haynes, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Mwenso and The Shakes, Emmet Cohen and Jonathan Batiste and Stay Human. His band, “Bessie and The Rainbowkids” is a group comprised of artists from all around the world who’s mission is to bring peace to all ears and love to all hearts. in addition, Russell is a part of “The Blacksmiths”, an arts coalition dedicated to social justice.

Ekep Nkwelle: Caged Bird

Read "Caged Bird" reviewed by Andrew Schinder

by Andrew Schinder
September 28, 2026

At a time when the jazz music community is blessed with no shortage of upstart young vocalists, Ekep Nkwelle has risen above the fray by embracing the diversity of styles within the jazz idiom, moving from time-honored standards to progressive modernity with ease, and working with masters ranging from Kenny Barron to David Murray. The daughter of Cameroonian immigrants, Nkwelle grew up in the rich jazz culture of Washington, DC and trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts as well as ...

Album Review

Domo Branch: Hand of Gifts

Read "Hand of Gifts" reviewed by Jack Bowers

by Jack Bowers
December 26, 2025

Even though Oregon-bred Domo Branch is traversing an enviable path as a drummer and composer, he hasn't forgotten how he got where he is and those to whose wisdom and guidance he owes a large measure of his success. On Hand of Gifts, his second recording as leader of his own group, Branch salutes his high school band director, Thara Memory, not only by performing one of his compositions, “Our Man Bogle," but by writing one of his own, “A ...

Album Review

Elias Stemeseder / Christian Lillinger: Umbra II

by John Sharpe
February 23, 2025

Austrian pianist Elias Stemeseder and German drummer Christian Lillinger capture the Zeitgeist in a nervy, occasionally anxiety inducing, pairing under the moniker Umbra. Although extant as a duet, they often supplement the numbers with like-minded collaborators, and on Umbra II trumpeter Peter Evans and bassist Russell Hall take to the full on interaction like ducks to water. Unlike their debut recording, this time out they swear off the electronics for an all acoustic outing, although, truth be told, such is ...

Album Review

Stemeseder Lillinger Quartet feat. Peter Evans & Russell Hall: Umbra II

Read "Umbra II" reviewed by Glenn Astarita

by Glenn Astarita
July 9, 2024

Imagine a musical universe where jazz's avant-garde explorers join forces with the precision of Swiss watchmakers. In this paradoxical realm, the Stemeseder Lillinger Quartet thrives, crafting intricate sonic tapestries that defy conventional melodic structures. At the helm of this audacious ensemble are Elias Stemeseder (piano) and Christian Lillinger (drums), two maverick minds whose collaborative chemistry could power a small city. The Quartet features Russell Hall (bass) and Peter Evans (trumpet), crafting a complex and intriguing follow-up album with Umbra II. ...

Album Review

Riley Mulherkar: Riley

by Jerome Wilson
April 16, 2024

Trumpeter Riley Mulherkar is best known as the leader of brass group the Westerlies. This, his debut solo album, is a heavily atmospheric session where his trumpet fills plush, cushioned spaces with spare accompaniment from piano, rhythm and voice created by the sound designs of Chris Pattishall and Rafiq Bhatia. With several classic tunes in the set list, this album acknowledges the jazz trumpet tradition even as it subtly distorts it. “Chicken Coop Blues" and Jelly Roll Morton's ...

Album Review

Riley Mulherkar: Riley

Read "Riley" reviewed by Vincenzo Roggero

by Vincenzo Roggero
March 11, 2024

Il nome di Riley Mulherkar potrebbe risultare sconosciuto ai più, ma il trentaduenne trombettista originario di Seattle presenta un percorso artistico di tutto rispetto. Vanta due mentori come Wynton Marsalis e il compianto Frank Kimbrough, collaborazioni con musicisti come Theo Bleckmann e Dave Douglas e soprattutto è co-fondatore di Westerlies, il quotato quartetto di ottoni con nove album alle spalle e una miscela esplosiva di tradizione e modernità. Tradizione e modernità che ritroviamo anche nell'album di debutto ...

Album Review

Benny Benack III: Third Time's The Charm

Read "Third Time's The Charm" reviewed by Jack Bowers

by Jack Bowers
August 14, 2023

While it remains to be seen whether rising star Benny Benack III's third album as leader is a charm (that is up to the listener), it is definitely a charmer, with delightful turns by trumpeter (and vocalist) Benack and pianist Emmet Cohen complementing stellar performances by a number of well-known and talented guest artists. This is basically a quintet date (Benack, Cohen, tenor saxophonist Ruben Fox, bassist Russell Hall, drummer Kyle Poole) enriched by star turns along ...