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American jazz trombonist.
Born March 20, 1929 in New York.
Died March 23, 2013 in Portland, Oregon (aged 84).

Russo's father and grandfather were both horn players and he was playing with his father’s band from the time he was 15. He was a graduate from the Manhattan School of Music, where he earned his Master’s Degree.
Russo was principally a sideman and soloist in big bands. He played with Pearl Bailey and became a fixture in Quincy Jones’ orchestra. He also played with Grover Washington, Jr., Van McCoy, Eddie Kendricks, Frank Sinatra and many, many more. He played with the orchestras of Artie Shaw, Dorsey Brothers, Sam Donohue, Neal Hefti, Stan Kenton and Sauter-Finegan.

ALBUMS


APPEARANCES +


The Brothers Sandole* / John Laporta
Modern Music From Philadelphia + Conceptions
2021, CD, Comp, Mono, RM, Fresh Sound Records
Various
The Wiz
2019, Blu-ray Mediabook, 2x CD, ,
Soundtrack/Gospel/Disco/Rhythm & Blues/Soul
Quincy Jones
Strike Up The Band
2017, CD, ,
Easy Listening/Theme/Big Band/Cool Jazz
Toots Thielemans
The Legendary Toots Thielemans
2017, Vinyl,
The Sons Of Sauter-Finegan
The Sons Of Sauter-Finegan
2016, CD, Comp, 24B, Fresh Sound Records
Quincy Jones
Plays The Hip Hits + Golden Boy
2012, CD,
Toots Thielemans
Yesterday & Today
2012, 2x CD, ,
Cool Jazz/Bop/Swing/Bossa Nova
Coleman Hawkins, Zoot Sims, Phil Woods
Saxes Inc.
2011
Artie Shaw
The Complete Thesaurus Transcriptions 1949
2010, 2xCD, Comp, Mono, RM, Hep Records (3), ,
Big Band/Swing
Stan Kenton
Stan Kenton's Music '55
2009, CD, Sounds Of Yester Year, ,
Big Band/Bop/Swing
Various
Mambo Big Bands 1946 - 1957 (New York - Los Angeles - Mexico City - La Havanne)
2009, 2xCD, Comp, Frémeaux & Associés, ,
Mambo
Toots Thielemans
The Amazing Sound Of "Toots" Thielemans
2008, CD, Comp, RE, RM, Fresh Sound Records, ,
Cool Jazz
Maynard Ferguson And His Birdland Dream Band
Maynard Ferguson And His Birdland Dream Band
2007, CD, Comp, Fresh Sound Records, ,
Big Band
Maynard Ferguson
The Essential Maynard Ferguson
2007, 2x CD, ,
Big Band
Various
Jazz In The Charts 99/100 (You Didn't Want Me When You Had Me 1953-1954)
2006, CD, Comp, Mono, RM, Dig, Documents, Documents,
Celia Cruz & Tito Puente
Cuba Y Puerto Rico Son...
2006, CD, ,
Guaracha/Guaguancó/Merengue/Cumbia/Bolero/Rumba/Bomba/Pasodoble
David Ruffin
The Great David Ruffin: The Motown Solo Albums, Vol. 2
2006, 2x CD, ,
Soul/Disco
Artie Shaw
The Artie Shaw Story
2005, 4xCD, Comp, Proper Records (2), ,
Swing/Big Band
Tito Puente
The Essential Tito Puente
2005, ,
Mambo/Cha-Cha/Salsa/Guaguancó/Afro-Cuban/Latin Jazz
Tommy Dorsey And His Orchestra
It's D'Lovely ~ 1947-50
2003, CD, Comp, Mono, RM, HEP Records (3), ,
Swing/Big Band
John Laporta
Theme And Variations
2002, CD, Album, Comp, RE, Fantasy
Artie Shaw
Star Dust
2002
John La Porta*
Theme And Variations
2002
Artie Shaw
Highlights From Artie Shaw: Self Portrait
2001, CD, Comp, Smplr, Bluebird (3), BMG, ,
Big Band
Bobby Hackett
Hello Louis! / Bobby Hackett Plays Tony Bennett's Greatest Hits
2001, CD, Comp, Collectables, Collectables, ,
Dixieland/Swing/Easy Listening
Various
Latino Blue
2000, ,
Afro-Cuban Jazz/Latin Jazz/Cha-Cha/Mambo
Birdland Dream Band
Volume 1
1998, CD, Album, Hig, RCA Victor
Esther Phillips
The Best Of Esther Phillips (1962–1970)
1997, 2x CD, ,
Soul
Ray Starling, New York Neophonic Orchestra, Joel Kaye, New York Sound Stage One Orchestra
Alternate Routes
1996, 2xCD, Album, RE, Tantara (4), ,
Big Band
Benny Goodman
B.G. World-Wide
1993, 4xCD + Box, Comp, TCB Records (2), ,
Swing
Dinah Washington
First Issue: The Dinah Washington Story (The Original Recordings)
1993
Dinah Washington
Verve Jazz Masters 19
1993, ,
Vocal/Big Band/Rhythm & Blues
Various
Digital Big Band Bash!
1993, CD, ,
Big Band
Machito And His Afro Cuban Jazz Ensemble*
Machito And His Afro Cuban Jazz Ensemble
1993, ,
Mambo/Cha-Cha/Swing/Afro-Cuban Jazz
Various
The Progressive Records All Star Tenor Sax Spectacular and The Progressive Records All Star Trombone Spectacular
1992, CD, Comp, Progressive Records (2), ,
Swing/Bop
Various
Trombone Scene
1992, LP, Album, Mono, Vik
Various
GRP 10th Anniversary Collection
1992, 3x CD, ,
Soul-Jazz/Afro-Cuban Jazz/Smooth Jazz/Contemporary Jazz/Fusion/Big Band/Swing/Hard Bop/Post Bop/Jazz-Rock/Latin Jazz
Various
Atlantic Rhythm And Blues 1947-1974
1991, 8x CD, Box Set, ,
Rhythm & Blues/Soul/Funk
Frank Sinatra
Trilogy: Past, Present & Future
1988, 2x CD, ,
Vocal
Enoch Light & The Light Brigade*
Big Band Hits Of The 30's - Vol. 2
1987
Maynard Ferguson
The Birdland Dreamband
1987, CD, ,
Big Band
Various
The Mystery Of Edwin Drood (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
1986
Various
Jazz Piano 2
1984, 3xLP, Comp + Box, RCA
Various
From West Coast To East Coast
1983, 3xLP, Comp, RE + Box, RCA, ,
Bop/Big Band/Post Bop/Cool Jazz/Latin Jazz
The Glenn Miller Orchestra
In The Digital Mood
1983
Lynn Roberts With Mel Davis
Harry, You Made Me Love You
1983
Various
The Progressive Records All Star Trombone Spectacular
1982, LP, Album, Progressive Records (2), ,
Brass Band
Irv Cottler
I've Got You Under My Skins (Irv Cottler Salutes The Chairman Of The Board)
1982
Sylvia Syms
Syms By Sinatra
1982
Larry Elgart
Flight Of The Condor
1981, LP, Album, RCA Victor, ,
Jazz-Funk/Fusion
Vicki Jo Boyer
Dancin' With Vicki Jo Boyer
1981, LP, Kimbo Educational Records
Yank Lawson / Bob Haggart
Greats Of Jazz - Best Of Jazz In The Troc
1980, Vinyl, ,
Swing
Don Redman
The Don Redman All-Stars Vol.1
1979, LP, Album, RE, Jazz Legacy, Jazz Legacy, ,
Swing/Big Band
The Don Redman All-Stars*
The Don Redman All Stars
1979, LP, From The Jazz Vault
Meco*
Superman And Other Galactic Heroes
1979, Vinyl, ,
Disco
Anacostia
Anacostia
1978, Vinyl, ,
Soul/Funk
Eddie Kendricks
Vintage '78
1978, Vinyl, ,
Soul/Disco
Garnet Mimms
Has It All
1978, Vinyl, ,
Funk/Disco/Soul
Various
The Wiz (Original Soundtrack)
1978, 2x CD, ,
Soundtrack/Gospel/Disco
Meco*
The Wizard Of Oz
1978, Vinyl PRC Richmond Pressing, ,
Disco
The World's Greatest Jazzband Of Yank Lawson And Bob Haggart
On Tour Vol 1 And 2
1977, LP, Album, RE, World Jazz Records,
The World's Greatest Jazz Band* Of Yank Lawson And Bob Haggart Special Guest Maxine Sullivan
On Tour II
1977, Vinyl, ,
Swing/Vocal
Various
The All Star Trombone Spectacular
1977, ,
Brass Band
The World's Greatest Jazzband Of Yank Lawson And Bob Haggart
On Tour
1977, Vinyl,
Rice And Beans Orchestra
Cross Over
1977, Vinyl, ,
Disco
Meco*
Music Inspired By Star Wars And Other Galactic Funk
1977, Vinyl Santa Maria Pressing, ,
Disco
Urbie Green
21 Trombones
1977, 2x Vinyl, ,
Big Band
Meco*
Encounters Of Every Kind
1977, Vinyl, ,
Disco
The World's Greatest Jazz Band* Of Yank Lawson & Bob Haggart
Plays Duke Ellington
1976, Vinyl,
Benny Goodman
Orchestra & Groups
1975, LP, Comp, Rarities (2),
Paul Butterfield
Put It In Your Ear
1975, Vinyl, ,
Blues Rock
David Ruffin
Who I Am
1975, ,
Soul/Disco
Van McCoy
The Disco Kid
1975, Vinyl, ,
Soul/Disco
Don Sebesky
The Rape Of El Morro
1975, ,
Jazz-Funk/Soul-Jazz
Urbie Green
Urbie Green's Big Beautiful Band
1974, Vinyl,
Tony Mottola And The Brass Menagerie
Tony Mottola And The Brass Menagerie
1974, Vinyl, ,
Smooth Jazz/Easy Listening
Grover Washington, Jr.
Soul Box Vol. 2
1973, Vinyl, ,
Fusion/Funk/Soul-Jazz
Grover Washington, Jr.
Soul Box Vol. 1
1973, Vinyl All Disc Pressing, ,
Smooth Jazz/Fusion/Funk
Grover Washington, Jr.
Soul Box
1973, 2x Vinyl, Box Set, ,
Fusion/Funk
Marlene Ver Planck*
This Happy Feeling
1969, LP, Album, Mounted Records, ,
Vocal
Urbie Green
21 Trombones Rock Blues Jazz
1968, Vinyl Gatefold, ,
Big Band
Urbie Green And Twenty Of The "World's Greatest"
Twenty-One Trombones
1967, Vinyl Gatefold, ,
Big Band
Dorothy Ashby
The Fantastic Jazz Harp Of Dorothy Ashby
1965, Vinyl,
Bobby Hackett
Hello Louis! - Plays The Music Of Louis Armstrong
1964, ,
Dixieland
Tony Bennett
Who Can I Turn To
1964
Mel Davis Sextet
"Shoot" The Trumpet Player
1963, Vinyl Gatefold, ,
Easy Listening
Quincy Jones
Plays Hip Hits
1963, Vinyl, ,
Soul-Jazz/Big Band/Swing
The Sonny Truitt Quintet/Octet
Drummer Delights. Jazz Band Music Minus One Drummer
1961
The Don Redman All Stars*
The Don Redman All-Stars Vol.2
1960, Vinyl, ,
Swing/Big Band
Lionel Hampton
Silver Vibes (With Trombones And Rhythm)
1960, Vinyl,
Dinah Washington
Dinah Washington Sings Fats Waller
1959
Machito
Kenya Afro Cuban Jazz
1958, 7", EP, Sonet, ,
Bolero/Afro-Cuban
Neal Hefti And His Orchestra* , Featuring The Neal Hefti Singers
Pardon My Doo-Wah
1958, Vinyl, ,
Easy Listening
Various
Modern
1958, Vinyl, ,
Bop/Cool Jazz/Hard Bop
Jean 'Toots' Thielemans - Harmonica With Orchestra*
Time Out For Toots
1958, Vinyl, ,
Swing/Bop/Cool Jazz
Pearl Bailey
A Broad
1958, Vinyl, ,
Vocal
Machito*
Kenya (Afro Cuban Jazz)
1958
Bob Keeshan And The Honeydreamers
A Child's Introduction To Jazz
1958
Birdland Dream Band
Somebody Wants Me Down There
1957, 7", EP, Mono, RCA Italiana
Birdland Dream Band
Birdland Dream Band
1957, LP, Album, Mono, Vik,
Maynard Ferguson
Birdland Dream Band Volume 2
1957, Vinyl, ,
Big Band
Various
Trombone Scene
1957, Vinyl,
Birdland Dream Band
Birdland Dream Band
1957, Vinyl,
Dinah Washington With Eddie Chamblee And His Orchestra*
Everybody Loves My Baby / Blues Down Home
1957, Shellac, ,
Vocal
Jean Shepherd
Into The Unknown With Jazz Music
1956, LP, Album, Mono, Abbott Record Co., ,
Bop/Comedy/Big Band/Spoken Word
Micky Sheen* and The Swing Travelers
Have Swing Will Travel
1956
Teddi King With Al Cohn And His Orchestra
Bidin' My Time
1956
John La Porta*
Conceptions
1956
Brothers Sandole
Modern Music From Philadelphia
1956
Various
Lullaby Of Birdland
1955, Vinyl Indianapolis Pressing, ,
Bop/Big Band/Swing
The Sons Of Sauter Finegan*
The Sons Of Sauter Finegan
1955
The Harris-Leigh Baroque Band And Brass Choir
Jazz 1755 (An Eighteenth Century Jam Session)
1955
Jerry Wald And His Orchestra
Pennies From Heaven / Raisins And Almonds
1955, Vinyl, ,
Swing
The Sauter-Finegan Orchestra*
Inside Sauter-Finegan
1954, Vinyl Gatefold, ,
Space-Age
Artie Shaw And His Musicians*
Superb Performances By Request Including Some Never Before Available
LP, Ltd, First Heard Records, ,
Swing
The John LaPorta Quartet
8 Men In Search Of A Drummer: Jazz Band Music Minus One Drummer
LP, Music Minus One
Birdland Dream Band
Birdland Dream Band
10", Mono, RCA Italiana,
Tommy & Jimmy Dorsey And Their Orchestra*
Vol. III - Last Moments Of Greatness
,
Big Band/Swing
Tommy & Jimmy Dorsey And Their Orchestra*
Vol. IV - Last Moments Of Greatness
,
Big Band
Various
Kapp Jazz Festival
1956, LP, Comp, Mono, Smplr, Kapp Records,
Meco*
Encounters Of Every Kind
2010, ,
Disco
Meco*
The Wizard Of Oz
1978