Accessibility links
Catherine Russell Catherine Russell artist page: interviews, features and/or performances archived at NPR Music

Catherine Russell

The Grateful Dead Tribute On Mountain Stage
Brian Blauser/Composite by Alexis Palmer/Mountain Stage

Mountain Stage

The Grateful Dead Tribute On Mountain Stage

In celebration of the Grateful Dead, hear these performances from Catherine Russell, Joan Osborne and Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams, live on Mountain Stage.

The Grateful Dead Tribute On Mountain Stage

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/717096109/717146401" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Catherine Russell: Sunny Side Of The Street

Catherine Russell. Marv Goldschmitt/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Marv Goldschmitt/Courtesy of the artist

Jazz Night In America

Catherine Russell: Sunny Side Of The Street

WBGO and Jazz At Lincoln Center

More than 30 years ago, Sy Oliver arranged a book of music for female vocal trio, for one concert only. The singer Catherine Russell unearths those arrangements at Jazz At Lincoln Center.

Catherine Russell: Sunny Side Of The Street

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/477822438/477824662" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Catherine Russell, Virginia Mayhew On JazzSet

Virginia Mayhew and bassist Harvie S perform at the Mary Lou Williams Festival. Margot Schulman/Courtesy of the Kennedy Center hide caption

toggle caption
Margot Schulman/Courtesy of the Kennedy Center

JazzSet with Dee Dee Bridgewater

Catherine Russell, Virginia Mayhew On JazzSet

WBGO

With her classic voice and in-the-pocket delivery, Russell recently polished some gems at the 2010 Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival. Saxophonist Virginia Mayhew also presents new material.

Catherine Russell, Virginia Mayhew On JazzSet

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/130863665/161818729" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Catherine Russell On 'Song Travels'

Catherine Russell. Stefan Falke/Courtesy of the artist. hide caption

toggle caption
Stefan Falke/Courtesy of the artist.

Song Travels

Catherine Russell On 'Song Travels'

Hear "Mood Indigo" as a bluesy duet between the jazz singer and host Michael Feinstein.

Listen Now: Catherine Russell On 'Song Travels'

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/174435003/174435437" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Mountain Stage

Catherine Russell On Mountain Stage

Her father was Louis Armstrong's musical director in the 1930s. Her mother still plays the bass. So it's no surprise that Russell has chops. She sings a set of bluesy numbers and standards for Mountain Stage.

Listen Now: Catherine Russell On Mountain Stage

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/98668700/98566232" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Music Interviews

Catherine Russell: 'Real Thing' Gets Sentimental

Fresh Air

Her father was Louis Armstrong's music director and a noted bandleader in his own right; her mother was a member of the iconic International Sweethearts of Rhythm. Critic Nat Hentoff says that pedigree — and her own unmistakable chops — make Cat Russell "the real thing" in a crowd of jazz wannabes "who couldn't lasted through a chorus in a contest with Ella Fitzgerald or Betty Carter."

Catherine Russell: 'Real Thing' Gets Sentimental

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/91380042/91380041" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Catherine Russell On Mountain Stage

Catherine Russell. Brian Blauser/Mountain Stage hide caption

toggle caption
Brian Blauser/Mountain Stage

Mountain Stage

Catherine Russell On Mountain Stage

Hear one of the best contemporary jazz and blues vocalists working today in her third appearance on Mountain Stage.

Catherine Russell On Mountain Stage

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/149849766/149850213" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Five New Singers At The 2012 Monterey Jazz Festival

Meklit Hadero is based in the San Francisco Bay area, a two-hour drive north of Monterey. Rus Anson/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Rus Anson/Courtesy of the artist

A Blog Supreme

Five New Singers At The 2012 Monterey Jazz Festival

The long-running jazz festival is set to go on this weekend for the 55th year. As always, new talent will be there — including these emerging vocalists. Artistic director Tim Jackson breaks down some of the performers he picked.

Fresh Air Weekend: Catherine Russell, Bret McKenzie

The cast of The Muppets includes (left to right) Floyd Pepper, Fozzie Bear, Lew Zealand, Janice, Swedish Chef, Camilla The Chicken, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Gonzo, Scooter and Beaker. Scott Garfield/Disney hide caption

toggle caption
Scott Garfield/Disney

Fresh Air Weekend

Fresh Air Weekend: Catherine Russell, Bret McKenzie

Fresh Air

The standards singer's new solo album, Strictly Romancin', explores the ups and downs of love. Russell sings several tracks from the record during this interview and performance. Also, Bret McKenzie, who wrote five songs in the recent Muppets movie.

Fresh Air Weekend: Catherine Russell, Bret McKenzie

Listen · 47:31
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/147342923/147343160" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Catherine Russell: The Fresh Air In-Studio Concert

Catherine Russell. Stefan Falke hide caption

toggle caption
Stefan Falke

Music Interviews

Catherine Russell: The Fresh Air In-Studio Concert

Fresh Air

The standards singer's new solo album, Strictly Romancin', explores the ups and downs of love. Russell sings several tracks from the record during this interview and performance.

Catherine Russell: The Fresh Air In-Studio Concert

Listen · 43:56
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/146478234/147184407" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Catherine Russell: 'In The Dark' And Otherwise

Catherine Russell plays with the simple, sultry jazz standard "Romance in the Dark" in unexpected ways. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Courtesy of the artist

Review

Song Of The Day

Catherine Russell: 'In The Dark' And Otherwise

Russell plays with the simple, sultry jazz standard "Romance in the Dark" in unexpected ways.

Strictly Romancin'

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/145477523/145466843" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
'Generations In Jazz' Concert On Piano Jazz: Set II

Kenny Barron (pictured) is joined by his former student, Helen Sung, for a breezy duet. Courtesy of John Sann hide caption

toggle caption
Courtesy of John Sann

Concerts

'Generations In Jazz' Concert On Piano Jazz: Set II

In part two of our concerts from Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, guest host Jon Weber pays tribute to Marian McPartland in her tune "Ambiance." Kenny Barron is joined by his former student, Helen Sung, for a breezy duet on an untitled samba.

'Generations In Jazz' Concert On Piano Jazz: Set II

Listen · 57:53
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/132736661/132846228" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
'Generations In Jazz' Concert On Piano Jazz: Set I

Pianist Helen Sung is one of the many performers at the "Generations in Jazz" concert at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Courtesy of the artist

Concerts

'Generations In Jazz' Concert On Piano Jazz: Set I

In this new session, host Marian McPartland and friends get together on the bandstand at one of the world's most elegant jazz venues as Piano Jazz bids 2010 goodbye and welcomes the New Year with musical family young and old.

'Generations In Jazz' Concert On Piano Jazz: Set I

Listen · 57:12
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/132475632/132475689" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Catherine Russell On Piano Jazz

Catherine Russell. Stephen Falke hide caption

toggle caption
Stephen Falke

Studio Sessions

Catherine Russell On Piano Jazz

Singer Catherine Russell shares stories of some of the lesser-known tunes of the 1930s and '40s performed by Mae West, Fats Waller and others. With accompanist Mark Shane, Russell performs "Troubled Waters" and Waller's "Inside This Heart of Mine."

Catherine Russell On Piano Jazz

Listen · 57:52
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/131105360/131073542" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Catherine Russell Sings The Standards

Inside This Heart of Mine features 13 songs performed in Catherine Russell's intimate, contemporary style. Stefan Falke hide caption

toggle caption
Stefan Falke

Music Interviews

Catherine Russell Sings The Standards

The jazz vocalist is fond of the music that bookends the Great Depression, but the postwar American songbook of the 1950s finds a home with her, too. Her latest album, Inside This Heart of Mine, features songs from both eras, performed in Russell's intimate and contemporary style.

Catherine Russell Sings The Standards

Listen · 9:22
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/126369853/126438391" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Music Interviews

'Inside' A Backup Singer's Journey To Center Stage

Fresh Air

Jazz singer Catherine Russell spent years singing backup for performers like Paul Simon and David Bowie before starting a solo career. She's just released her third album, Inside This Heart of Mine.

'Inside' A Backup Singer's Journey To Center Stage

Listen · 21:01
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/126023581/126050162" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

World Cafe

Catherine Russell Revisits The Classics

XPN

Catherine Russell embodies a voice so versatile, she transcends genres with each song. Showcasing a repertoire of blues, jazz, swing and R&B, Russell's new album Sentimental Streak is both powerful and vulnerable.

Catherine Russell in Studio on World Cafe, 8/5/08

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/93296266/93294711" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Browse archive or search npr.org