d. russell
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d. russell

Band Pop Adult Contemporary

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Discography

2007 Mountain Stage NewSong Contest Regional Finalist

a 5 song EP entitled"disconnected"2007
"land of solace/days of grace" 2004

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Bio

With a velvety smooth voice akin to Shawn Colvin or Suzanne Vega, singer/songwriter Denise Russell of northern Ohio is a name you may not recognize yet, but you will soon. Russell currently released a 5-song EP recorded at Nashville's Omni Sound Studios. Her music is jazz-infused, melody driven acoustic pop with lyrical depth, but it's Russell's voice that will make any listener stop and pay attention.

Russell, who grew up near Canton, Ohio, knew she was destined to be a songwriter at a very young age because she would hear melodies in her head, perhaps it was in the family genes since her mom was an accomplished pianist who "never had a lesson", denise remembers,"we would listen to records and she would listen a couple times and she'd go to the piano and play it almost perfectly, by the second time she played it, it was PERFECT! I never realized how gifted she was until i came into music myself, and i'm still amazed at her talent," so when Denise began to play both piano and guitar, the beauty of chords turned this curious child into a prolific songwriter. But it wasn't until recently that she became serious about pursuing music as a full-time ambition. Performing in restaurants and coffeehouses the past few years, Russell has performed both solo and with fellow musician Jon Mathewson. but what really helped catapult her to another level was when she met Eliot Sloan, lead singer of Blessid Union of Souls. Sloan saw her play a support slot at a festival his band was headlining and became enamored with Russell's voice immediately, and the two became friends and co-writers. Russell has also performed with Alton Lee Hood, lead singer for the Grammy-nominated contemporary R&B group D.O.C.(Disciples of Christ); Jack Schantz, musical director of the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra; and more recently, Faith Evans, Diana Krall, and Norah Jones.

Although"Land of Solace/Days of Grace, a recording of ten songs Russell released in 2004 ,was primarily guitar and vocal, with occasional percussion to add texture, there is no mistaking Russell's sultry, extraordinary voice in any of her recordings. Emulating her influences such as Colvin, Vega, Mindy Smith and Rickie Lee Jones, Russell is sure to turn heads of those artists' fans , as well as to transcend genres and impress tastemakers everywhere.
The 5-song EP, due for release later this summer has an all-star cast of players. Those include drummer John Gardner(Dixie Chicks),bassist Matt Mckensie,acoustic guitarist Pat McGrath, Mike Rojas piano/keys, and electric guitarist Mike Durham(Dave Matthews,Tim McGraw).