William Russo (musician)
| William Russo | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | William Joseph Russo |
| Born |
June 25, 1928 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | 11 January 2003 (aged 74) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz music, classical music, ballet, opera, musical theater |
| Occupation(s) | Composer, conductor, author, lecturer, trombonist |
| Instruments | Trombone |
| Years active | 1950–2003 |
William Joseph Russo, better known as Bill Russo during his earlier career (June 25, 1928, Chicago, Illinois – January 11, 2003, Chicago, Illinois), was an American composer, conductor, jazz musician, arranger, teacher and author from Chicago, Illinois. He is considered one of the greatest jazz composers and arrangers. Russo was the founder of the Chicago Jazz Ensemble at Columbia College Chicago, the founder and Director of Chicago Free Theater, and the director of High School Jazz Festival.
A former student of the jazz pianist Lennie Tristano, Russo wrote ground-breaking orchestral scores for the Stan Kenton Orchestra in the 1950s, including 23 Degrees N 82 Degrees W, Frank Speaking, and Portrait of a Count. One of the more famous works he wrote for the Kenton Orchestra is Halls Of Brass, specially composed for the brass section, without woodwinds or percussion. The section recording this piece, featured such jazz artists as Buddy Childers, Maynard Ferguson and Milt Bernhart, was much-respected by symphony brass musicians. In 1954, Russo left the Stand Kenton Orchestra and continued private composition and conducting studies, then moved to New York in 1958, where he led the 22-piece Bill Russo Orchestra.
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