John Russell (musician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Russell
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John Russell performs with Mopomoso at the Vortex Jazz Club in April 2010.
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| Background information | |
| Born | 19 December 1954 Kent, England |
| Died | 19 January 2021 (aged 66) |
| Genres | Free improvisation |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | 1970s–2021 |
John Russell (born December 19, 1954 – died January 19, 2021) was a talented acoustic guitarist from England. He was known for a special kind of music called free improvisation. John started playing this music in the 1970s. He also helped organize many concerts and played on over 50 music recordings.
A Musician's Journey
John Russell was born in Battersea, a part of London. He grew up in a place called Ruckinge in Kent, England. When he was eleven years old, his grandfather gave him his first guitar. John loved blues music and taught himself how to play the guitar while he was still in school. He even started his own band!
At seventeen, John moved to London. He began playing at a club called the Little Theatre Club. This club was run by a famous drummer named John Stevens. John Russell became part of a group called the Musicians' Co-op. He helped organize many concerts for other musicians. In 1975, he also helped start a music magazine called Musics.
For about a year, John took lessons from another guitarist named Derek Bailey. These lessons helped him learn more about playing the guitar in a traditional way. A couple of years later, John decided to focus only on playing the acoustic guitar, which is a guitar that doesn't need to be plugged in. He stopped playing the electric guitar.
In 1983, John appeared in a TV show called Jazz on Four: Crossing Bridges. This show looked at different guitar players and their unique styles. In 1988, John helped create Acta Records. This was a record label he started with two other musicians, John Butcher and Phil Durrant. They released their first album, Conceits, on this new label.
Mopomoso: A Special Music Club
In the mid-1980s, John Russell started a music club called Mopomoso. He created it with a pianist and trumpeter named Chris Burn. This club held regular monthly concerts in London. They had about 300 concerts at the Red Rose Club! Later, in 2008, the club moved to the Vortex Jazz Club.
Many amazing musicians played at Mopomoso. These included Steve Beresford, Phil Minton, and Cleveland Watkiss. Mopomoso also had a special Christmas event each year. During this event, musicians who played free improvisation would perform. There were also workshops where people could learn. Another event was Fete Quaqua, where musicians played together in different groups over three evenings. This was similar to another famous music event called Company Week.
John Russell also led his own music groups. He had a trio with John Butcher and Phil Durrant. He also played duos (music with just two people) with musicians like Roger Turner, Stefan Keune, Phil Minton, and Evan Parker. In 1981, John started an ensemble (a group of musicians) called Quaqua. This group often changed in size and featured many different improvising musicians.
Later Years and Legacy
In 2009, John Russell formed a new group called House Full of Floors. He played in this group with Evan Parker and John Edwards. In his later years, John started playing the electric guitar again for some live shows. He even played with Thurston Moore from the famous rock band Sonic Youth. In December 2014, John played in a concert with Evan Parker and Thurston Moore. This concert was also a celebration for his 60th birthday, even though he was in the hospital for a heart condition at the time.
In 2010, a special radio show about John's music was broadcast on BBC Radio 3. It featured his work on the late Japanese improvising guitarist, Masayuki Takayanagi.
In 2013, the Mopomoso club went on a tour across England. They played seven concerts. The music recorded during this tour was later released as a special box set. John Russell started a record label called Weekertoft in 2016 with Irish pianist Paul G. Smyth to release this music.
Personal Life
In March 2015, John Russell had a heart operation. He was reported to be recovering well after the surgery. Sadly, John Russell passed away from cancer in January 2021. He was 66 years old.
