russ
russ
 
 
www.myspace.com/russnolan

"The Werner trio, as an accompanying ensemble, is nothing short of remarkable, propelling Nolan to the heights of artistic achievement...the Trio allows the leader to make a definitive case for his status as one of the jazz world's premiere saxophonists."
– Mark Lomanno, Jazz Improv Magazine, April 2008

"Russ Nolan proves he can take a top band and make it his own."
– Forest Dylan Bryant, Jazz Times, July 2008

"Two Colors, Russ Nolan's first album as a leader, was an impressive debut; With You in Mind is a flying leap. Inasmuch as it finds the saxophonist seamlessly integrating himself into a longstanding trio, the new album reminds me of some of those classic Prestiges and Blue Notes of the 1950s and '60s, on which freelance hornmen availed themselves of Miles Davis's rhythm sections." – Francis Davis, Village Voice, January 2008

"Not your run of the mill tenor player, who leans on speed or a big round tone to impress, Nolan's uniqueness lies in his facility for delicately presenting the upper registers of his instrument,… more akin to that of a vocalist who uses phrasing and diction to achieve desired moods." – Elliot Simon, All About Jazz, May 2008

"Throughout 'With You in Mind' (Rhinoceruss), the tenor and soprano saxophonist Russ Nolan smartly capitalizes on the whimsy and fire of the pianist Kenny Werner, an experienced hand who resurfaces on this album-release gig." – Nate Chinen, New York Times, May 2008
July 2008 Jazz Times CD Review
March 2008 Jazz Improv Magazine CD Review by Mark Lomanno
May 2008 All About Jazz CD Review by Elliott Simon
May 2008 New York Times Jazz Listing
May 2008 All Music Guide CD Review by Ken Dryden
April 2008 All About Jazz CD Review by By Lyn Horton
July 2008 O's Place Jazz Newsletter CD Review by D. Oscar Groomes
January 2008 Hartford Courant CD Review by Richard Kamins
January 2008 Bergen News CD Review by Miriam Allenson
January 2008 Midwest Record CD Review by Chris Spector
January 2006 Jazz Improv Magazine CD Review by Joshua Musselwhite
August 2005 Cadence Magazine CD Review
March 2005 JazzReview.com CD Review by Peter Westbrook
February 20, 2005 All About Jazz Cd Review by Elliott Simon
January 2005 Jazz Institute of Chicago Journal Feature by Alain Drouout
December 17, 2004 ejazznews.com CD Review by John Stevenson
December 15, 2004 ejazznews.com CD Review by John Gilbert
November 22, 2004 ejazznews.com CD Review by George W. Carroll
November 2004 'Two Colors' liner notes by Bill Milkowski

"Nolan and the Werner Trio are most definitely an excellent match. With You in Mind is at once an easy to listen to release and a deft, consummately professional work. Joshua Musselwhite of Jazz Improv Magazine calls Russ Nolan "a monster in a closet." He's correct."
– Miriam Allenson, Bergen News Music Review, March 2008

"Tenor saxophonist Russ Nolan has proven his mettle as a composer and soloist. The melodies are sharp, the solo sections well-defined, and the ideas scurry around. First thing right is he made the CD with pianist Kenny Werner, one of the more creative musicians around." – Richard Kamins, Hartford Courant Blog Review, January 2008

"When I see a Coltrane cover on a self-produced CD, I usually want to run and hide. I would rather listen to the Nicholas Slonimsky thesaurus of scales played on kazoo. At least that would be a change. But wait, these guys can play, and they don't just imitate old Impulse records. Kenny Werner and cohorts mesh brilliantly in the rhythm section, achieving a light swinging sound that serves as an effective underpinning to Nolan's fluid sax work. No copycats here, just smart playing by a top-notch quartet." – Ted Gioia, Jazz.com

"Jumping right in step with Kenny Werner's trio, Nolan (a local lad who transplanted to New York) just tears it up in big league fashion. This cat can honk a sax with the best of them and let's his chops fly freely." – Midwest Record Recap, January 2008

"Assertive, challenging, intoxicating, undeniably progressive. The origins/stories behind each composition is very compelling, as evidenced in the release's liner note. Superb all-around recording." – The Jazz Nation 2005

"Nolan succeeds in grand style on his auspicious and long overdue debut, Two Colors…Consider it Volume One in an ongoing series of good things to come from this talented saxophonist/composer."
– Bill Milkowski (Jazz Times & Jazziz magazines)

"Russ Nolan's new CD features great compositions and a great band that plays on the highest level of sophistication." – Kenny Werner

"A wonderful debut recording by a gentleman who has gone back into the woodshed in the past few years, dedicated to getting it right. Russ Nolan has composed some challenging music for this CD and does the job at a very high level. Hats off!!" – David Liebman

"Russ Nolan has matured into a saxophonist with a highly developed sense of melodic line, both in his improvisations and compositions, and the band sounds great."
– Chris Potter

"Nolan plays hard bop on an open fire with sophisticated soul, a quartet to meet all expectations, pouring over groove charts, as sand pipers and lemon tarts no longer apply this quartet plays it on the fly."
– Dick Crockett, "The Voice" 88.7fm
– 4623 T Street, Suite A, Sacramento, Ca. 95819 - 4743

Russ' new recording with the Kenny Werner Trio (Johannes Weidenmueller, Ari Hoenig), 'With You In Mind' has been released! Buy Now

Press Inquiries: Jason Byrne/Red Cat Publicity (347) 578-7601 / redcatjazz@mac.com

Saxophonist and composer RUSS NOLAN hails from Gurnee, IL, a near Chicago suburb. Through the first half of his life, it was not music that was his passion, but athletics. Practicing his jump shot and fastball as much as a prodigy puts time into their musical instrument, it was his dream to play professional sports. It was only after high school that he was bitten by the proverbial 'jazz bug'. This new 'infection' led him to study at the widely acclaimed music department at North Texas State University and spent his summers at the feet of Chicago Saxophone Legends Joe Daley and Rich Corpolongo.

Returning home after school, Russ was active for over ten years on the Chicago music scene, absorbing the music and rubbing shoulders with the world-class touring groups at Joe Segal's Jazz Showcase--as well as appearing as a sideman in the club himself on occasion; sitting in with Lin Haliday at the Get Me High Lounge and the legendary Von Freeman at the New Apartment Lounge; leading his own groups at the Bop Shop w/guitarist John McLean, the Get Me High Lounge, Martyrs and the Green Mill; collaborating with Violinist Zach Brock at the Hot House, Pete Miller's, Katerina's and the Jazz Showcase; and playing in Kurt Elling's orchestra for Chicago's Millennium Celebration.

Nolan's big band arrangements of Kenny Garrett and Pat Metheny compositions (originally written for the One and Two O'Clock Lab Bands at NTSU) have been performed across the United States.

Always focused on musical growth, Russ has had personal study with David Liebman, Chris Potter, Kenny Werner, and David Bloom, founder of the Bloom School of Jazz.

Continuing to true his metal with fire, Russ made the trek to pay the toughest dues of all… the Big Apple. Since arriving in March 2002, Russ has begun to emerge as a bandleader, performing in various New York City jazz clubs and other performance venues.

Russ is very committed to jazz education, and as a result, has had extensive tours in 2005, 2006, and 2007, conducting clinics and adjudicating jazz festivals at the college, high school, and middle school level. Check the schedule for updates.