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Johnny
Russo is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music. He was trombonist with the Eastman
Wind Ensemble and the Eastman Philharmonia Orchestra where he
had the privilege of performing the "Firebird Suite"
under the baton of the composer Igor Stravinsky. After a brief
career in symphonic music Johnny was drawn to the freedom of
jazz improvisation and eventually abandoned the symphonic world
for Traditional Jazz.
Johnny
founded his "East Hill Classic Jazz Organization" in
Ithaca NY in the mid-1980's and has been a fixture in the Central
New York music scene ever since. A
gifted trumpet and trombone player heavily influenced by Louis Armstrong
, Jack Teagarden and Bix Beiderbecke, Johnny is highly respected among
musicians as an entertainer and a remarkable improviser. He has
performed for many years at major Cornell University social events,
including 18 consecutive years at the Alpha Delta Phi "Victory
Club" charity ball.
This consistent
25-year record of success with Cornell University continues with
performances at the 2006 Alumni Reunion, major Fraternity events
, many faculty/staff Holiday and retirement socials, and has
resulted in the expanded EHCJG being retained for the coming
June 2007 Reunion by many Returning Classes and the Johnson School
of Management.
After
20 years Johnny continues to hold the weekly piano chair at Rulloff's
restaurant on College Avenue in Ithaca.
Johnny
has many recordings to his credit, going back to the mid '70s.
His latest release , with Doug Robinson, is entitled "Bluebird
From The Sky" which they describe as "our best
effort yet". Click here for more information about this new CD.
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