I grew up playing the guitar in Erie Pa. during the late 60's. The popular film That Thing You Do could easily illustrate my early years. The garage band scene exploding in Erie at that time was one of the most powerful in the country. Being a steel town, I never understood why. I guess it was because it had established itself as the proving ground for early Vaudeville. Any successful act that could survive the Erie audience could survive anywhere. My first bands met those demands head on. My hometown gave me the chance to hear all the major artists of the time: The Beatles, The Beach Boys with Brian Wilson, Deep Purple, and Frank Zappa to name a few. Even a young Pat Metheney performed at the modest venue of the Antler's Club. At the same time I was studying the guitar with Basil Ronzitti; a man equally versed in the classical and jazz traditions. To this day I credit him for all the knowledge he gave to me. By the end of high school I was playing the top gigs that Erie had to offer. Twang, the last band of this period featured my original compositions. Soon my curiosity about music and life led me to my next destination, New York City.
New York City in the 70's was a haven for many musical movements. Rock and jazz flourished side by side. On any given night, thriving downtown clubs were serving up the likes of The Sex Pistols, Blondie or The Ramones. In this environment I met George Usher, one of the leading songwriters of the era. After auditioning I became the lead guitar player for The Decoys. The band became a dominant force in the downtown scene. Our regular gigs at CBGB's, Max's Kansas City, and The Peppermint Lounge insured us a loyal following. This gave rise to our hit single "Not The Trembling Kind". Even as The Decoys were enjoying success, other musical interests were beckoning.
Over many years I felt a musical curiosity for the jazz guitar. Pat Martino, whose performances I had enjoyed on a regular basis, accepted me as his student in my mid-20s. Studying with Pat opened my ears to a new realm. He is still a personal mentor and we remain good friends to this day. He hipped me to the world of jazz.
In the late 80's I formed the "Ed Russell Group." Our performances included regular stints at New York venues such as Birdland, the 55 Bar, the Knitting Factory, and finalists in the Brooklyn Lager Jazz Competition. The ensemble has recorded two albums Visions of Order and The Law of Circumstance. It remains active today.
Over the last decade I have had the privilege of having the guitar chair with the Tony Bagwell Big Band, arguably the premier big band in Southern France. My mainstay educational employment has been the resident head of the Guitar Department at the Collegiate School for Boys, where I have been teaching for the last 23 years.
I currently perform at various venues in the NYC area as well as being involved in soundtrack work such as the HBO production "Coma".
