Ray Russell

As part of an exploratory group of British ‘jazz and beyond’ musicians in the late 1960’s, Ray Russell released a number of acclaimed and ultimately influential experimental albums; Dragon Hill, Rites & Rituals, Live At The I.C.A. and Secret Asylum into the early 70s. Based on the dates of these releases, he can claim to be, along with Sonny Sharrock, one of the earliest ‘free’ guitarists and his early work has been cited by today’s noted experimentalists like Thurston Moore and Jim O’Rourke.

Since then, Russell has enjoyed a freelance career composing award-winning TV soundtracks and working with artists ranging from Phil Collins to Gil Evans to Tina Turner to Andrew Lloyd Webber, but he remains a dedicated sonic explorer as well.

PERSONNEL:

• RAY RUSSELL, guitars
• with:
• ERIC BALDWIN,found sounds, sequencial creativity
• CHRIS BISCOE, tenor clarinet & soprano saxophone
• MO FOSTER, bass
• NIC FRANCE, drums
• SIMON PHIILLIP. drums
• RALPH SALMINS. drums
• JIM WATSON, keyboards

TRACKS:

• 01. Escaping the Six–String Cage
• 02. Turn Right At Ventura
• 03. Moon Dog
• 04. Endure
• 05. We Go Back a Short Way!
• 06. The Conversation
• 07. One For Geoff
• 08. Six In – Six Out
• 09. A Room WIthin a Roo