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Pianist Russ Kassoff began plunking out tunes on a toy piano he received from his parents when he was 3 years old. When his parents noticed that their young son was playing along with the music on television cartoons, they decided to enroll him in piano lessons. Kassoff continued classical piano training throughout high school, and he would eventually earn a degree in music from the Crane School of Music at the State University of New York in Potsdam.
Kassoff landed one of his most formative gigs while still in high school - playing for singers, comics, dancers and other entertainers at hotels in the Catskills. The summer job gave him the opportunity to learn popular tunes and hone his improvisational skills. He returned to the job each season for five years.
In 1980, Kassoff landed a dream job as the touring pianist for Frank Sinatra. The engagement lasted 11 years. In 1982, Kassoff was tapped by another legendary performer - Liza Minelli - and he served as her pianist and accompanist through 2001.
The two gigs came together when Kassoff was selected to be pianist on 1988's Ultimate Event Tour, which featured both Sinatra and Minnelli in addition to Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin.
A multitalented musician, Kassoff has served as pianist, music director and conductor for a variety of performers, including Steve Allen, Paul Anka, Gregory Hines, Barry Manilow and Maureen McGovern. As a studio piano player, his gigs are just as varied; he's recorded with John Pizzarelli, Rod Stewart, Carly Simon and Catherine Dupuis, to name a few. In addition, Kassoff has been a featured pianist at concert halls and festivals around the country.
Kassoff's additional credits include doing production work on several CDs, putting together jazz festivals and playing for numerous Broadway shows. The newest addition to a long and varied list of accomplishments is the formation of his own group, The Russ Kassoff Big Band, which is made up largely of fellow New York Studio players and Broadway musicians.
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Set List for Russ Kassoff on Piano Jazz:It Only Happens When I Dance (Berlin)
You Are All The World To Me (Kassoff, Broderick)
Indian Summer (Dubin, Herbert)
Stranger In A Dream (McPartland)
In A Mellow Tone (Ellington)
Lady Be Good (G. & I. Gershwin)
Quiet Nights (Corcovado) (Jobim)
On A Slow Boat To China (Loesser)
Kassoff landed one of his most formative gigs while still in high school - playing for singers, comics, dancers and other entertainers at hotels in the Catskills. The summer job gave him the opportunity to learn popular tunes and hone his improvisational skills. He returned to the job each season for five years.
In 1980, Kassoff landed a dream job as the touring pianist for Frank Sinatra. The engagement lasted 11 years. In 1982, Kassoff was tapped by another legendary performer - Liza Minelli - and he served as her pianist and accompanist through 2001.
The two gigs came together when Kassoff was selected to be pianist on 1988's Ultimate Event Tour, which featured both Sinatra and Minnelli in addition to Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin.
A multitalented musician, Kassoff has served as pianist, music director and conductor for a variety of performers, including Steve Allen, Paul Anka, Gregory Hines, Barry Manilow and Maureen McGovern. As a studio piano player, his gigs are just as varied; he's recorded with John Pizzarelli, Rod Stewart, Carly Simon and Catherine Dupuis, to name a few. In addition, Kassoff has been a featured pianist at concert halls and festivals around the country.
Kassoff's additional credits include doing production work on several CDs, putting together jazz festivals and playing for numerous Broadway shows. The newest addition to a long and varied list of accomplishments is the formation of his own group, The Russ Kassoff Big Band, which is made up largely of fellow New York Studio players and Broadway musicians.
Check out this week's Piano Jazz Shorts: the Piano Jazz podcast.
Subscribe!
Set List for Russ Kassoff on Piano Jazz: