| The Shook/Russo Quartet has been working together for
nearly two years in the Baltimore/Washington, D.C.
area. Their focus has always been to compose and
perform their own original music within the jazz
idiom, honoring the masters by carrying on the
tradition. The group has developed an incredible and
unique sound by merging the diverse backgrounds of
each of these fine
musicians into one voice. The result is a whirlwind
of grooves, melodies, and diverse textures that are
a true delight to hear.
Joining the quartet on their debut album is trumpeter
Greg Gisbert. Greg is one of the leading young
trumpeters in the international jazz scene, performing
frequently with many of today's popular jazz
artists. From 1984 throughout the 90s, Greg played
with Buddy Rich, Woody Herman, Gary Burton,
John-Fedchock, Toshiko Akiyoshi, the Mingus Epitaph,
Frank Wess, Mickey Tucker, the Buck Clayton
Big Band, and Clark Terry. He has also freelanced
with the likes of vocalists Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah
Vaughan, Mel Torme, Joe Williams, Sammy Davis Jr, and
Tony Bennett. Greg currently tours with the
Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra and co-leads
Denver-based jazz sextet Convergence.
In early 2005, the quartet invited Greg to a session,
and everyone hit it off immediately. They decided
then and there whenever Greg was in town and
available, that they would play. When Greg came back
through the area later that year to perform with the
Dizzy Gillespie United Nations Reunion Orchestra,
the quartet booked a gig at 49 West Cafe in Annapolis,
invited Greg, and they played to a packed
house. They decided the following day to head to the
studio and record in the hopes of capturing the
magic of the previous night's performance. They did
just that.
THE QUARTET
Amy Shook was born and raised in Idaho, and attended
the University of Idaho (where she met her
husband, saxophonist Pat Shook), studying at the
Lionel Hampton School of Music, having earned two
bachelor's degrees and a masters in music. She is now
one of the most in-demand upright bassists in
the Baltimore/Washington, D.C. area, coveted for her
huge sound and driving groove. She is an
incredibly versatile musician who enjoys playing jazz
standards as well as new music by her local
colleagues. She is an accomplished composer, and her
personality truly comes through in her writing.
She has received national recognition in reviews of
the album "Uncertain Path" by the Rob Levit Trio, a
trio she performs regularly in with drummer Frank
Russo. As a result, she was featured in Bassics
magazine on their CD Sampler published with the
magazine.
Pat Shook, originally from Washington state, holds a
bachelor's from the University of Idaho, and a
master's from the University of North Texas, where he
performed in the famed One O'Clock Lab Band.
He is currently the lead tenor player in the U.S. Army
Jazz Ambassadors, and is admired by his
colleagues and local musicians for his incredible
technique, his fantastic skills in improvisation, and
his composing. His compositions display his roots in
tradition as well as the inspiration of today's
modern masters, and are great vehicles that are
showcases for each soloist.
Frank Russo, originally from the New York City area,
is one of the premier drummers in the
Baltimore/Washington, D.C. area. He completed a
distinguished career with the Naval Academy
Band, has toured internationally, and is currently the
professor of Drum Set Studies at both Towson
University and Shepherd University. Because of his
incredible adaptability and excellent sight-reading
skills, Frank is highly in demand and is an integral
part of every group he performs with. He has
developed his own voice on the drums, and is sought
after for the integrity he brings to the music. His
previous recordings have gained national recognition
in publications such as Downbeat, Jazztimes,
and Modern Drummer.
Tim Young, originally from Virgina, is starting to
make his mark in the jazz world. After completing
his education at the University of North Texas, Tim
returned to the east coast to serve as pianist with
the U.S. Army Jazz Ambassadors in Washington, D.C.
Tim has held this position for the past seven years.
Tim is a sought-after player because of his ability to
adapt to any musical situation. His style
covers just about all, and his reverence for the music
is very evident in both his playing and his writing.
Collectively, the members of the Shook/Russo Quartet
have performed extensively throughout the
United States, as well as performed in Canada, Mexico,
Asia, Europe, and the Caribbean and at festivals such
as the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, the Ottawa Jazz
Festival, the Stan Getz Jazz Festival, the East Coast
Jazz Festival, the Vancouver International Jazz
Festival, and the Telluride Jazz Festval to name a
few. A partial list of artists that they have
collectively performed with includes: Lionel
Hampton, Maureen McGovern, Monica Mancini, Phil Woods,
Kenny Werner, Dee Daniels, Jane Jarvis,Lanny Morgan,
Claudio Roditi, Al Grey, Bill Watrous, John Stowell,
Steve Swallow, Charles McPhearson, "Doc" Cheatham,
Rebecca Parris, Joe LaBarbera, Lou Marini, Ben Vereen,
Greg Gisbert, Jae Sinnett, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Hal
Crook, Keter Betts, Ethel Ennis, Bill McHenry, Dave
Ballou, and Slide Hampton.
Amy, Pat, Frank, and Tim would like to thank ALL of
our friends and families for their constant and
sustaining support, Greg Gisbert for bringing so much
life to the party, Max Murray for his fine ear, Jeff
Gruber and Blue House Productions for always honoring
the music, Bill Wolf of Wolf Productions for
making us "sparkle," Summit Records for the
opportunity to be heard, and most importantly, our
Father in Heaven, for the holy gift of music and the
great honor He has given us to offer it to others. |
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