Bill Russo

Bill Russo proved to be the most successful of all the “third stream” composers because of his inclusive musical conception. He did not write in “jazz” or “classical” terms; he simply wrote music. Centred on the weekly rehearsal orchestra he ran from January 1959, the big band he assembled for these recordings is as it should be—under control, with beautifully nuanced dynamics of great power and delicacy. It was probing and serious, characteristics that had somehow become embarrassing during the Basie era, but deployed here without a trace of pretentiousness. And it swung. At first glance this was a conventional jazz big band, except for the cello section, but the sound that Russo extracted from it is remarkable.

The music from these two albums—“School of Rebellion” and “Seven Deadly Sins” —moves smoothly in an inevitable progression of organic growth, in a genuine “third stream” fusion of classical and jazz principles. It makes for richly rewarding listening.


Tracklisting:

01. The Golden Apple (5:07)
Solo: Collins & Elton 02. Manteca, Opus 16 (2:46)
Solo: Socolow 03. Theme and Variations (3:44)
Solo: Sebesky, Wilcox, Shaughnessy & Mucci 04. What Is the Difference (5:54)
Solo: Barab 05. Introduction (4:29)
Solo: Socolow (oboe) & Elton 06. Sonatina (3:12)
Solo: Sebesky & Wilcox 07. Pickwick (3:25)
Solo: Socolow & Sebesky 08. Tanglewood (3:04)
Solo: Meldonian 09. An Esthete on Clark Street (3:07)
Solo: Wilcox & Sebesky 10. Seven Deadly Sins (4:24)
Solo: none 11. Greed (3:50)
Solo: Mucci & Mikiten 12. Lechery (5:44)
Solo: Elton, Barab, Meldonian & Mikiten 13. Gluttony (2:11)
Solo: none 14. Anger (4:44)
Solo: Collins 15. Envy (2:54)
Solo: Mikiten 16. Sloth (4:34)
Solo: ferina & Guffey 17. Pride-Epilogue (5:18)
Solo: Sebesky & Glasel

Total time: 68:46 min.

All tracks composed, arranged & conducted by Bill Russo.


Original LP sources:

Tracks #1-9, from the Roulette album "School of Rebellion" (SR 52045).

Tracks #10-17, from the Roulette album "Seven Deadly Sins" (SR 52063).


Personnel on tracks #1-9:

Burt Collins, Don Stratton, Johnny Glasel, Lou Mucci (tp), Bill Elton, Don Sebesky, Eddie Bert, Al Robertson (tb), Paul Faulise (b-tb), Dick Meldonian, Tony Buonpastore (as), Frank Socolow (ts, oboe), Larry Wilcox (ts), Tony Ferina (bs), Al Schackman (g), Irv Manning (b), Ed Shaughnessy (d), Seymour Barab, Alan Shulman, Julius Ehrenwerth, Charles McCracken (cellos).
Recorded at Bell Sound Studio, New York City, on March 7, 1960.

Personnel on tracks #10-17:

Burt Collins, Danny Stiles, Johnny Glasel, Lou Mucci (tp), Bill Elton, Don Sebesky, Eddie Bert, Mike Zwerin (tb), Kenneth Guffey (b-tb), Dick Meldonian (cl, as), Tony Buonpastore (as), Larry Wilcox, Don Mikiten (ts), Tony Ferina (bs), Howard Collins (g), John Drew (b), Ed Shaughnessy (d), Seymour Barab, Avron Coleman, Lorin Bernsohn, George Koutzen (cellos).

Recorded at Bell Sound Studio, New York City, on August 2, 1960.


Original recordings produced by Pete Kameron Recording supervisor: Rudy Taylor

Reissue produced by Jordi Pujol

24-Bit Digitally Remastered