Gene Russell

A hard bop pianist and organist, Gene Russell is best known as the founder of the legendary '70s Oakland funk and soul-jazz label Black Jazz Records. A favorite of vinyl crate-diggers and DJs, Russell's label was home to recordings by Walter Bishop, Jr., Doug Carn, Henry Franklin, and others. Following his 1967 debut for Dot Records, he released his own albums on Black Jazz, including 1971's New Direction and 1972's Talk to My Lady. Born in 1932, Russell grew up in Los Angeles where he played piano from a young age. He spent time studying at Julliard in New York and worked with a bevy of well-known performers, including Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Zoot Sims, and the Three Sounds. He also released two 1967 hard bop albums, Takin' Care of Business and Up and Away. Russell eventually settled in Oakland, California where in 1969 he launched Black Jazz Records to promote and showcase Black jazz, soul, and funk artists. The label, which was partially funded by percussionist and Ovation label-owner Dick Schory, gained some early recognition during its brief six-year run, releasing albums by spiritual jazz couple Doug and Jean Carn, former Count Basie Band bassist Cleveland Eaton, bassist Henry Franklin, guitarist Calvin Keys, vocalist Kellee Patterson, and others. He also recorded his own albums for the label, releasing 1971's New Direction and 1972's Talk to My Lady. By 1975, Russell had sold the label and launched Aquarican Records with plans to focus less on jazz and more on soul and funk sounds. He signed vocalist Talita Long (mother of actress Nia Long) and together they released 1981's Autumn Leaves. However, Russell died suddenly in 1981 at the age of 48. In the decades following his passing, Black Jazz Records developed a cult-following with albums finding their way into the hands of DJs and hip-hop artists. In 2020, Black Jazz was part of a significant reissue campaign by Real Gone Music. ~ Matt Collar, Rovi