When Jonathan Russell first arrived on the scene, the jazz world was astonished that a musician not yet in his teens knew the early jazz and American popular song book repertoire, could improvise skillfully, swing hard and comfortably share the bandstand with traditional jazz and swing icons like Bucky Pizzarelli, Dick Hyman, Ed Polcer and many others who loved playing with him. However, this remarkable CD demonstrates that the time has come to stop appraising Jonathan as a “gifted prodigy” and start acknowledging him as the “veteran” jazz master he has become, especially when partnered here with Ron Drotos. There is an intimacy and an urgency in playing with only one other person. There’s no rhythm section to support one’s time sense, and no other horns to join in as a front line. The selections on the CD show that Russell is a far more versatile performer than anyone could have expected…up to the challenges of Dizzy Gillespie’s bebop classic “Night In Tunisia” and Wayne Shorter’s “Footprints,” playing like a gypsy on “Tabriz, If You Please,” and best of all composing an extremely catchy original “Danny’s Groove.” Fans who know Jonathan as a mainstream player will delight in his versions of “Lady is a Tramp” and “Sweet Lorraine.” “Limehouse Blues” swings in a manner that would have been outstanding even in the glory days of Eddie Condon’s Mob and Joe Venuti. Ellington’s “Solitude” shows off Jonathan’s talents at interpreting ballads. Perhaps most remarkable is Duke’s “Black and Tan Fantasy” which often featured Ellington’s great violinist Ray Nance…but performing on trumpet. -Jack Kleinsinger “Highlights in Jazz” Jack Kleinsinger’s “Highlights in Jazz,” now in its 37th year, is New York’s longest running jazz concert series. For over 300 concerts, Kleinsinger has presented most of jazz’s greatest players. Jonathan Russell performed as a “surprise guest” in October 2007. Ron Drotos plays the piano. Whether it’s leading a rhythm section playing the music of the Great American Songbook, solo piano playing classical music, playing for a dance troupe, or in this case, accompanying a soloist, Drotos knows the language. Ron and I have worked together on jazz dates....rhythm section and myself....and we've worked with singers in the context of a workshop/clinic. It’s always a pleasure. Listen to how he sets up Duke’s “Solitude,” then giving support and space to Jonathan. There’s a nice touch Ron adds to every tune. Sit back, listen and enjoy the musical conversations on this CD. -Giacomo Gates, Jazz Singer About the Recording In June of 2009, Jonathan and I played as a duo in a concert at Pace University in New York City. We had so much fun that we decided to see if we could go into the studio and record ourselves while keeping the freshness and spontaneity of our live performance. We simply set up a violin microphone a few feet from the piano (just as it was in the concert) and proceeded to play. Just a list of songs, a short rehearsal to work out basic arrangements and the intent to “be ourselves.” No “studio separation” and no extensive editing. Most of the songs you hear on this CD were “first takes” -- just as they were in that original concert. - RD About Tabriz, If You Please This piece was inspired by a Persian painting of what appeared to me to be a man flying on a magical carpet. I tried to capture some of the exhilaration one might feel during such an adventure. Jonathan’s use of exotic scale elements completed the picture. - RD About Detours A basic blues...but with some surprises! - RD About Danny’s Groove Ron Drotos suggested that I compose a tune for this CD. I decided that I would write a piece in honor of Daniel Pearl both because I was inspired by his efforts to bridge the barriers that separate people and because I was recording the CD on the Daniel Pearl Memorial Violin. I started off writing “Danny’s Groove” by thinking of a bebop-like melody. When Ron came to look at it, he thought the solos might work well with a funk feel. I realized this worked really well because (perhaps as Daniel would have wanted it) it bridged two worlds of jazz...and it turns out to be a really good jam tune! - JR Credits: Jonathan is playing one of the Daniel Pearl Memorial violins made by Jonathan Cooper in 2003. For more information about Daniel Pearl please visit: www.danielpearl.org Recording engineering provided by Peter Karl of Peter Karl Studios. Photography provided by Jim Russell, Robert Consentino and Todd Paris.