Australian jazz gospel pianist, vocalist, composer and music educator. ABC recording artist and APRA Award winner. She has seven songs in the official "Australian Jazz Real Book". Sharny has been writing and performing her own songs of faith , often on commission, for all of her life. Her heart is to touch people's lives for God, to draw them closer to His loving heart. REVIEWS "Sharny was my teacher and she’s one of the country’s foremost jazz vocalists. She writes her own material (which is becoming more common for jazz singers now, thankfully) and her songs are incredibly well-crafted and of course, sung to perfection." Melissa Forbes, Head of Contemporary Voice Studies, USQ "Sharny is the eldest member of the Russell family who are often referred to as one of Australia’s most talented musical dynasties. Although one is easily impressed by Sharny's career highlights, it is the magic in her voice that one remembers most. Smooth and pure, a vocal style that pays reverence to beautiful lyrics while keeping the listener connected to the melody, along with her nationally recognised scatting prowess. Then of course, as a pianist, she has been my brother James’ and many others’ first choice on a few occasions, and is one of Australia’s very few exponents of the George Benson style of unison voice & piano improvisation. She is loved and respected in the jazz community of this country as a performer and also as a writer of compelling originals." John Morrison, drummer & jazz educator. "In short, some of those songs are spine tingling...the writing is exquisite - beautifully crafted songs." Ingrid James, singer & recording artist, Brisbane, Queensland. "With an intimate and sophisticated style and sweet lyrical voice Sharny Russell creates some of the freshest, classy jazz arrangements around today." APRA review - Nominations List 2004. “... Sharny takes a piano solo to which she adds, in unison, a wordless vocal. It’s an exquisite experience to hear this ... done so well, with such reverence for the jazz tradition. In a world of over-rated and over-stated jazz singers, Sharny Russell is a gem. Her trio could headline any jazz festival in the country.” Eric Myers, National Jazz Chord Magazine "Sharny is a musician who sings and plays piano honestly and joyously .... I've seen her perform many times, and loved each one! it's always a pleasure to hear her do her thing." Kristin Berardi, Winner of Montreax Jazz Festival vocal prize, Wangarratta Vocal Competition, and the Freedman Award. "(A Good Thing On Hold. Sharny Russell - ABC Jazz) Rating: 8 stars. You know, some long afternoons you sit facing the hi-fi with a stack of new releases and the quiet thrill of expectation. That's not always wise, for hopes can be dashed as much as realised. This is one album that leapt out from the throng from the moment it started playing. Aaah . . . Lovely. Some beautifully recorded piano and acoustic bass, competent and fresh jazz arrangements and to top it all, the relaxed, attractive and secure vocal talents of Sharny Russell. I should have known. ABC Jazz have never, in my humble experience, released an artist who wasn't worthy, and they record and produce albums so well. I've said that before. So -- a scurry for the press notes. It turns out Sharny, accompanied here by her brother Stephen on piano and backing vocals, sister Helen on double bass and vocals (their parents were musicians), has been singing for 20 years and now lives in Byron Bay. She has a welcoming voice, warm and polished at the same time. She always sounds comfortable even as she plays with a lyric and melody line. Hear the vocal flirtation signing off the title track, a vocal lick of extreme class. You know you're in good hands. And that extends to her supporting players, who are also established musicians, not least the formidable David Ades (a larrikin of the alto and another Byron Bay denizen). The original songs which comprise the album are a treat too - not the usual roster of standards - why bother? - but a deft set of interesting and appealing tunes which offer cohesion as well as variety. The multi-tracked voice and backing vocals on the title track come as a surprise and show another whole set of possibilities for this gifted singer from whom we should hear much more. For now, do have a listen to this assured, substantial album." The Financial Review (Aug 15 2003) Just now getting a chance to listen to "A Good Thing on Hold". Some gorgeous moments Sharny. I really like your writing, the arrangements especially. Your lyrics are "real honest" and a singer who sings perfectly in pitch...ahhhhh... what a joy. I've been handed a bunch of CD's of late from here, there and everywhere. The first thing that hits me is pitch, then tone, groove, soulfulness, honesty and story telling. I can hear you have ALL in abundance. I like how your piano playing informs what you do as a vocalist - it's real nice. Great to hear you and your brother and sister together - what a talented family. John Hoffmann and the rest of the musicians and vocalists, all sound real fine. THANK YOU for sharing this recording with me, Sharny. What a lovely surprise (not that I didn't expect you to be real fine). Chris McNulty (New York based, Award winning, Australian jazz singer/writer) “... exuberance stems from vocalist Sharny Russell who, in her puckish way, can do wonderful mischief to a lyric, bending phrases and harmonies, teasing fresh nuances from the standards but never sacrificing musical quality. She is one of Australia’s best female jazz singers.” The Courier Mail "Sharny - this stuff is seriously, seriously good. It's world class and I'm really digging it. I can't wait to get the whole album! .... And to think that a week ago I just thought you were a lovely lady that wrote kids music...! Blown. Away." Jared Haschek, keyboards and songwriter,Compliments of Gus, Melbourne, Victoria. "Sharny! Thanks for your knowledge, and skill, and patience in teaching us all.. I've been meaning to tell you, I've been listening to your Velvet Live CD, and I think my favourite thing about it is the youthfulness and joy of your singing." Steph D (student) "I miss hearing your voice - really. I learn so much when i hear you sing." Mark J (student) “Russell is a purist whose voice drips with so much sweetness and good cheer as to ward away evil spirits. . . immaculate intonation and well-crafted scat lines.” Rave Magazine "You are a very special person, which comes out in your beautiful singing - from the heart!" Connie I. ABOUT SHARNY Sharny’s mother, Peg Russell, was a musician who had a “ridiculously keen ear” according to other musicians who knew her. She could hear anything. Don Burrows thought she played like Bill Evans, whom she had never heard of! She brought up her children to hear music in the same way. Younger siblings Steve Russell (pianist, bassist) and Helen Russell (bassist, musical director) along with Sharny, also have this ear. When her parents worked out that it wasn’t the fridge making a high-pitched sound, but nine month old Sharny sitting on the floor whistling a note, they knew they had another muso on their hands. Her dad, Noel, was a journalist who played sax and clarinet, and joined his wife on gigs on the weekends, playing for country dances. Their little girl was picking out tunes she’d heard on the piano at three years of age, so the sensible thing to do was start lessons. What followed was a life of lessons, eisteddfods, church music involvement, community choirs, close part harmony singing, and family harmonising in the car, the house - just about anywhere. A degree in classical piano under Nancy Weir ensued. Then it started. Playing music to earn a crust….. and she has never done anything else. Singing, playing, writing on commission, directing, recording, arranging, producing, teaching. Lucky, some would say. She ran the Yamaha Music Schools in Adelaide for six years, sang children’s songs for the ABC, and was musical director for the children’s TV program, Here’s Humphrey, for a time. All the while she was listening to the great jazz artists and syphoning their repertoire, feel, phrasing and improvisational techniques. Iconic radio jazz broadcaster, Jim McLeod, heard Sharny and said “Come, I will introduce you to Blossom Dearie – you have a lot in common.” Sharny met Blossom on more than one occasion. Sydney pianist and arranger, Julian Leigh, who loved and mentored Sharny in her time there, said she should leave Blossom’s songs alone – there was too much similarity. In 2001, Judith Durham - famous lead voice of the iconic Australian group, The Seekers, heard Sharny sing in Melbourne, and told her she sang from the solar plexus, as did Judith, and believed that this is what makes a singer stand out from the rest. When Sharny told her she wasn’t intending to do much more singing and concentrate on teaching, Judith was aghast. “No!” she said, “As soon as I heard your first phrase, I knew you were a star. The world must hear you.” This was to be a life changer for Sharny. She was struggling with a debilitating chronic illness and having also battled through some other life challenges, was struggling to keep positive about her performing career. Career? There had already been so many interruptions. Right when it was blossoming, and she was involved in starting up a neat little jazz club in Adelaide, a series of events seemed to obliterate her ability to carve out any sort of performing career. A serious car accident which really should have taken her life - and supposedly her singing voice - but didn’t. A marriage affected by the head injury of her (first) husband in that same accident. And the birth of her first two children. She did manage to get to Sydney for nearly a year and play the famous venues, The Basement and The Soup Plus, on a regular basis. But as much as she wanted to stay, family issues dictated a move to her home town. A move “to the sticks”, as Julian Lee put it. But the offers of gigs kept coming and the family soon moved to Brisbane. Sharny began earning the family bread and butter, singing and playing in bars, restaurants, and the occasional spot with well-known artists. Two of those were Bob Sedergreen and Ted Vining, well-known jazz musicians and educators from Melbourne, who heard Sharny sing with a local big band at a small festival and asked her to sing with their trio. She also performed with James & John Morrison when they came to town. They all said she was “the real deal”. In 1992, a six-nights-a-week gig at the Sheraton in Brisbane brought an unforgettable highlight. World renowned saxophonist, James Moody, walked up to say he had been dining in the bar cafe for three nights in a row because he loved listening to her music. He said it was world class and wondered why she was doing “a job like this”. The next night, legendary bassist, Ray Brown – in town with the same big band – sat requesting songs, delivered the same kind of praise as Mr Moody, and they sat and talked about music and the joy of jazz for an hour and a half after the gig. She said afterwards, “I kept having to remind myself who I was chatting with – what a lovely man.” Another “pinch me” moment was when she had been slotted into a back-blocks spot at the well-known Bellingen Jazz Festival, Australia, in 1999. She played standards and a few of her originals with a local bass player and drummer. A few days later she got a call to say she had been reviewed by Eric Myers in the National Jazz Chord magazine. He said “... Sharny takes a piano solo to which she adds, in unison, a wordless vocal. It’s an exquisite experience to hear this ... done so well, with such reverence for the jazz tradition. In a world of over-rated and over-stated jazz singers, Sharny Russell is a gem. Her trio could headline any jazz festival in the country.” A review to set off any jazz career. After her conversation with Judith Durham, and a move to Byron Bay on the north coast of NSW, a new resolve arose, and in 2002 she was recording an originals album for the ABC at 301 studios (A Good Thing on Hold). Featured players were those keen-eared siblings, Steve and Helen, as well as drummer Dave Sanders, flugel horn player John Hoffmann, and alto saxophonist Dave Ades - all Sharny’s regular musical cohorts. She was never sure whether people wanted to hear her jazz originals, but it turned out they did. The Financial Review wrote: “A Good Thing on Hold is a deft set of interesting and appealing tunes… And to top it all, the relaxed, attractive and secure vocal talents of Sharny Russell. …extreme class. You know you're in good hands.” One of the tracks on that album took the Australian Performing Rights Association (APRA) Jazz Award for the Most Performed Work in Australasia (radio play was what did it!). Being nominated alongside heavyweights, Paul Grabowsky and Allan Browne, was feather in her cap. The album remained a good seller for quite awhile, and is greatly appreciated by musicians for its originality, musical integrity and fresh compositional and arranging style. Teaching vocal jazz at Queensland Conservatorium and the Jazz Music Institute, Sharny imparts years of arranging, improvisational and compositional skill to her students. In the years to follow, apart from some major life challenges, Sharny has had some wonderful moments in jazz with some of the greatest performers in the country. She has toured with Grace Knight, supported Vince Jones, performed with George Washingmachine and Galapagos Duck, and performs and records regularly with Australian icon guitarist, George Golla. She and her siblings, who performed together regularly in Brisbane in the 80’s and 90’s, now re-unite to do Russell Family Jazz shows - and Sharny’s son, Sam, plays drums. Sharny has always been true to herself. Never a covers girl, and never an imitator. She says she hears a tune, whatever the recording, and if it appeals, she immediately begins translating it in her inner ear into her own version. You won’t hear anyone else make a song sound the same way. She has a unique, warm, sophisticated approach that has you totally surprised by the joy and intimacy of it all, and at the same time, amazed at the intricate musical intelligence at work. She’s been through the mill, but she keeps powering. Watch out for this next album – it’s going to be a hefty offering! A PLAQUE ON THE WALL By Ken Davis (after Sharny won the APRA Jazz Award in 2004) Australian singer/songwriter Sharny Russell is known for her understated but compelling music. She has been influential in musical education and for some years was the unseen Mrs Music behind much loved children’s TV show “Heres Humphrey”. She is also a leading exponent of the art of “scat singing”. So it was no surprise when I asked her the big question, “How has winning an APRA award changed your life”? “I now have a plaque on the wall!” For many songwriters struggling to achieve success and recognition this may come as a surprise. However Sharny has a different model of success. True success is founded in her relationship with Jesus. She wants to walk and obey in a way so that people are touched by her life AND her music. Her big goal is to be more like Him. Ken Davis – creative coach, interviewed Sharny to discover the secret of her success. KD: How did your APRA award come about? SR: It was awarded the “most performed jazz work, which covers radio, TV and live performance. The majority of that comes from radio. The majority for this piece came from ABC radio airplay as well as my own gigs. Songwriter Note: If you play live, get your return forms in to your local performing rights organization. You don’t get paid if you don’t do it! KD: Radio is tough for musos to crack. How did you go about getting your songs played? SR: The ABC were a big help. They had a vested interest. It was recorded on a compilation that they produced. That came about when local radio producer Richard Porteous heard me performing at “Jazz in the countryside” http://jazzinthecountryside.live.com.au/ in Lismore. He asked me to come in and play some songs and he said to me “It sounds like you have an album there.” He then called up legendary Aussie trumpeter James Morrison and jazz aficionado Vince Jones and asked their opinion. Apparently James had some kind words for me, and that sealed the deal. The album was funded by the ABC’s Regional Production Fund http://www.abc.net.au/radio/rpf/default.htm, so they paid for it and did an excellent job promoting it. Also see http://www.abc.net.au/corp/pubs/s1049366.htm NOTE for Musos: Compilations produced by radio stations are good to aim for. If you get on, you are likely to get airplay. This is different from the types of compilations produced by “Song sharks” that mostly fail to produce the hoped for results. If someone really believes in your music, they will pay for it and recoup their expenses from earnings, as opposed to the sharks who will ask you to pay all the costs up front. KD: How did you get a recommendation from James Morrison? SR: It came about from my early days of gigging in venues and clubs in Sydney. James was 19 at the time, and he played in my band. It was before he became well known. NOTE: Take home lesson for all musos and songwriters: You never know when those connections you’ve made in all sorts of obscure places and small gigs will pay off. So do your best to be on good terms with everyone you meet. Don’t leave a trail of hurt people and burnt bridges. KD: So what’s life like at the moment? SR: I’m getting used to having 9 kids (Sharny recently remarried, so 4+5=9 which makes the Brady Bunch look small). That takes a lot of brain and heart room. My life has been a struggle with personal and health issues over the last several years. Rheumatoid Arthritis has meant I’ve needed to adapt my musical style. Pain and lack of energy are constant companions. KD: So what’s on your heart at the moment? SR: I have a real passion for street kids in Central America. We like the work of the Toybox Foundation in Guatemala. (http://www.toyboxcharity.org.uk/) My aim is to sell enough music to be able to support them generously. KD: Any other musical projects? SR: Yes. I’ve recorded a wonderful project with guitarist George Golla. It’s called “Velvet Jazz.” Unfortunately it’s not available at present. If you'd like to find out more about Sharny and her work you can visit her at www.sharnyrussel.com You can listen to her APRA award winning song “If you love me” at http://www.abc.net.au/oztrax/stories/s1012392.htm KD: Sharny has not followed the traditional route of aggressive self-promotion. She has sought out gigs, and done the hard work of playing live and working on her craft. Her current success is living proof that a commitment to quality and continued improvement can pay off. She has sought to live a life honouring to God despite severe hardship. (She was involved in a severe car accident which left her first husband severely brain injured). Even now her health remains a challenge. So why not have a listen to some great Australian Jazz music, and follow Sharny as she seeks to follow Jesus.