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Ray Russell: Now, More Than Ever

By Ian Patterson
June 4, 2013
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English guitarist/composer Ray Russell has flown under the radar for most of his 45-year career, dividing his energies between his own projects, sessions for some of the biggest names in popular music and composing award-winning music for television and film. Russell's wide-ranging musical interests have meant that his own recordings have sometimes been separated by long gaps, and this is probably the main reason why he isn't better known. Seven years after Goodbye Svengali, Russell's tribute to composer

Gil Evans

composer / conductor
1912 - 1988

" data-original-title="" title="">Gil Evans, he returns with an energetic jazz-rock/fusion effort, which at its best draws favorable comparison to fellow English guitarist

John McLaughlin

guitar
b.1942

" data-original-title="" title="">John McLaughlin.

Like McLaughlin, Russell began as a London session player in the 1960s and although McLaughlin has always enjoyed a higher profile, Russell deserves his place in the pantheon of innovative British jazz musicians, following releases like Turn Circle (CBS Realm, 1968) and Dragon Hill (CBS Realm, 1969). And there's certain symmetry in the fact that all these years later the two guitarists are stable mates at Abstract Logix, the label which has done so much to relaunch contemporary jazz-fusion, particularly of the electric guitar-driven variety.

Joined by familiar cohorts drummer

Gary Husband

drums
b.1960

" data-original-title="" title="">Gary Husband, bassists Mo Foster,

Jimmy Johnson

bass
b.1930

" data-original-title="" title="">Jimmy Johnson and

Anthony Jackson

bass, electric

" data-original-title="" title="">Anthony Jackson in a series of shifting line-ups, the one constant here is Russell's incendiary and soulful playing, which may yet win him a whole new generation of jazz-rock/fusion fans. Russell gave a star turn on Husband's Dirty & Beautiful Volume 2 (Abstract Logix, 2012) and the drummer returns the favor with a typically bustling performance—including a solo feature—on "The Island," whose shifting soundscapes from modern prog rock and blues-based funk jam to searing jazz-rock encapsulates not only Russell's eclecticism, but his song writing nous which enables him to shift gears so effortlessly.

"Shards of Providence," a sophisticated rocker, has fewer twists and turns, with Russell and

Jimmy Watson

b.1922

" data-original-title="" title="">Jimmy Watson on Fender Rhodes both stretching out. Watson's Rhodes features again on "Way Back Now," a jazz-rocker in the

Frank Zappa

guitar, electric
1940 - 1993

" data-original-title="" title="">Frank Zappa tradition, with Rupert Cobb's muted trumpet bringing a more meditative hue to the mix. Whatever the tempo, whether on the slow-burning "Slow Down," the delightful duo ballad with Watson, "Suddenly they are Gone," or on the hard rocking "Rubber Chicken Dinner," Russell is in the form of his life and fans of guitarists McLaughlin,

Jeff Beck

guitar
1944 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Jeff Beck and

Jimmy Herring

guitar
b.1962

" data-original-title="" title="">Jimmy Herring will surely find much to admire.

"Odd Way Out" veers between ambient new-age mode and the soaring space-rock of the

Ozric Tentacles

band / ensemble / orchestra

" data-original-title="" title="">Ozric Tentacles, with Cobb and Russell both employing effects to create great, enveloping soundscapes. "Cab in the Rain," a solo piece that layers sustained electric notes and delicate acoustic arpeggios, supplies a lyrical coda to a driving set.

Russell's virtuosity—fierce and tender in turn—is the meat on the bones of rhythmically grooving tunes that sink their hooks from the get go. A fine supporting cast contributes stellar individual performances in what may rank as one of the guitarist's best outings in his long and varied career. With this kind of fire in Russell's belly, a quick follow-up recording or two would be well in order.

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Track Listing

The Island; Shards of Providence; Way back Now; Slow Day; Suddenly they are gone; Rubber Chicken Dinner: Odd Way Out; Cab in the Rain.

Personnel

Ray Russell

guitar, electric

Ray Russell: guitars; Gary Husband: drums (1-2,4); George Baldwin: electric bass (1); Jimmy Johnson: electric bass (2,7); Jim Watson: keyboards (1-4, 6-8); Anthony Jackson: Contrabass guitar (3); Ralph Salmins: drums (3,6-7); Rupert Cobb: trumpet (3, 7); Mo Foster: electric bass (4,6); 'Kaskel': additional soundscape (7).

Album information

Title: Now, More Than Ever | Year Released: 2013 | Record Label: Abstract Logix

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