Grammy Award-winning and two time Grammy-nominated vocalist, Catherine Russell is a native New Yorker, born into musical royalty. Her father, the late Luis Russell, was a legendary pianist/composer/bandleader, and Louis Armstrong's long-time musical director. Her mother, Carline Ray, was a pioneering vocalist/guitarist/bassist who performed with International Sweethearts of Rhythm, Mary Lou Williams, and Sy Oliver.
A graduate of American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Ms. Russell has toured the world, performing and recording with David Bowie, Cyndi Lauper, Paul Simon, Steely Dan, Jackson Browne, Michael Feinstein, The Holmes Brothers, Wynton Marsalis, and Rosanne Cash, among others, appearing on over 200 albums. Since the 2006 release of her debut album, Cat, on Harmonia Mundi's World Village label, seven acclaimed and chart-topping albums have followed, including Strictly Romancin’, awarded Prix du Jazz Vocal 2012 (Vocal Album of The Year) by the Jazz Academy in France, and Bring It Back in 2014. Catherine Russell was a featured artist on a Grammy Award-winning soundtrack album for the HBO-TV series, Boardwalk Empire.
Her 6th album, Harlem On My Mind, was released in September 2016 and received a Grammy nomination for Best Jazz Vocal Album. Catherine has appeared on PBS-TV and on Fresh Air with Terry Gross and Tiny Desk on NPR. Will Friedwald, writing in The Wall Street Journal, calls Catherine Russell “one of the outstanding singers of our time.” Catherine’s 7th album as a leader, Alone Together, was released in March 2019 on Dot Time Records, and held the No.1 position on the JazzWeek 2019 Year End Chart for national radio play, while receiving her 2nd Grammy nomination for Best Jazz Vocal Album. An 8th album, Send For Me, was released on April 1, 2022.