Music
Press
“the showstopper of the night was Russo. A fiddler with an exciting, unorthodox style that apes a blues-rock lead guitar, only with a little more vibrato, she brought the house down twice – once with a wild rendition of Sonny Boy Williamson’s “the Sky Is Cryin” and the second time with “Me and Bobby McGee.” Her voice on both was truly Joplinesque, and her young-hippie stage presence contrasted nicely with the rest of the band.”
- Tulsa World, OK
“anyone seeing or hearing the band must agree, the stand-out here is Kate Russo. Russo plays violin, sax, keyboards and sings, flowing from one to the next… Is there nothing this woman can’t do? I’d have to say, I doubt it. Russo sings th blues with the best of ‘em and plays blues violin as if it’s a harmonica, only better. She plays jazz sax and rockin’ keyboards… So it’s not a matter of “if?” this band will be singed but “when”… Catch ‘em while you can.”
- Hartford Advocate, Local Motion, CT
“Who will be the first to discover the real heroine of Rock ‘N Roll?… The best unsigned band in the world… hottest female vocalist on the scene… who’s revolutionized her electric violin the way Jimi Hendrix did to guitar.”
- Rolling Stone Magazine
WITH BOCCHERINI
Record-Journal, CT
"The sky over the Buttonwood Tree was crying last week but it wasn’t with the guitar sobs of the late Stevie Ray Vaughan; it was the dynamic wail of Kathleen Russo’s electric violin. Still rarely featured in rock formats, the violin added a rich, fierce tone to the blues, rock…numbers Russo’s Boston-based rock band, Boccherini, performed in the small arts center. Russo, a young multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, was the focal point, prompting gushing sentiments during intermission – ‘You’re amazing! Talent just seems to emanate from you!’ -- and many stunned stares as she hopped from microphone to microphone, singing and playing saxophone, keyboards and violin…
Most tracks were co-written by Russo… (with) sturdy, expressive vocals and restless violin escapades. At times, Russo shook so hard as she played that it seemed as if her bow were yanking her along with it as it tore throught its melodic runs, insistent squalks and gritty chords.”
- Record-Journal, CT
*The Bangkok Post -- "Big Brother and the Holding Company, better known as the band that launched Janis Joplin to psychedelic superstardom in the mid 60s. Long time favourites of the San Francisco ballroom scene, their current lineup features original guitarist and singer Sam Andrew, bass player Peter Albin and drummer Dave Getz. Attempting to fill the impossibly big shoes of Joplin is the sultry Sophia Ramos, with the outstanding Kate Russo on electric violin. Ramos proved herself on signature tunes like Down On Me and Summertime, but it was the [electric violin's] screeching, sometimes distorted --- purposely, of course --- Combination of the Two that was the highlight of the show. The song, some may remember, was recently used in Terry Gilliam's adaptation of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and is the perfect accompaniment to the decadent and depraved scene that plays out on the edge of the desert. For Big Brother, it's been a long trip from their early days in Haight Ashbury..." - The Bangkok Post
“This band… has been called ‘the greatest unsigned band in the world.’ At the 25th anniversary of Woodstock, they were called out for an unprecedented five encores, prompting the emcee to gush, ‘If these guys had been here in 1969, you’d be looking at legends!’ Singer/violinist…Kate Russo has ‘revotlutionized the electric 5-string violin as Jimi Hendrix did guitar… She makes it scream… and sing like an angel.” Don’t miss your chance to see this critic’s favorite in our intimate setting.”
- Next Of Kin, Boston, MA
“lead singer Kate Russo’s colorful voice has a way of keeping a Joplin-sharp edge as well as maintaining the strength and drive of Grace Slick’s chords. Being multitalented, Russo also shines on the album with her… violin, saxophone, and keyboard-playing… she reflects about her lost love… overwhelmed by the uncertainity of her future…”
- The Aquarian Weekly, Border Notes, NJ
Discography
*Kate Russo - Looking For Ringo
("Liar" and "Deliver Me" in 2006 movie, "ACES")
*Kate Russo - Home Cooking (Delicious Demos)
*The Elliots - The Color Album
*The Elliots - The White Album Limited Edition
*The Elliots - The Blue Album Live (acoustic)
*Kate Russo EP - Just A Matter Of Time
*Jon Found Kate - Jon Found Kate (Nevessa Sound)
*Independent 3 Song EP
*Boccherini Time Machine (Paisley Park Studio)
Photos
Bio
Kate Russo: Singer/Songwriter/Electric 5-String Rock Violinist (also keyboards and guitar)
katerusso@yahoo.com www.myspace.com/katerussoband
www.katerusso.com
VIDEO LINK:
Copy and paste the following link to your browser to watch live video of Kate with full band-
http://web.mac.com/blakethompson/iWeb/KR%20Band%20Live%40the%20Venue/KR%20Star%20Spangled%20Banner.html
2008-Current: Performances with full band and as duo. Side Projects with Big Brother & The Holding Company, The Blake Thompson Band, The John Wilde Group and Chuck Negron (formerly of Three Dog Night.)
2008 Studio sessions: 16 Ton Studio in Nashville, producer Robert Reynolds of The Mavericks and Danny White, Nashville Trax, and Third Room Productions.
Listen to more songs at myspace.com/katerussoband
BIO
Blowing minds everywhere with her own brand of lead rock electric 5-string violin, Kate Russo is influenced by rock and blues guitar legends. The recipient of a NEA grant, Concertmaster of the NEC Youth Symphony with international classical tours and an alumnus of New England Conservatory of Music, Russo has also toured the US, Europe and Asia with her own brand of original rock.
Starting out as a multi-instrumentalist, with emphasis on classical violin at New England Conservatory, Kate began writing and rocking at 16. With enthusiastic reviews from Rolling Stone Magazine, The New York Post and others in original bands like the award-winning Boccherini Ensemble, Jon Found Kate, Bit O' Jane and The Elliots, her playing styles and songwriting grew and blossomed. Russo, who also plays piano, sax and guitar, has shared the stage with classic rock, pop and blues artists as well as contemporary well-known international acts, touring and recording around the country and abroad.
Modern rock with a retro feel creates a sound that is both familiar and distinctive: catchy, hook-filled songs are peppered with blues, rock, pop, punk and even classical influences-- and feature soaring melodies, tight harmonies and a heartfelt sincerity.
Memorable songs, energy, vocals and the one-of-a-kind violin solos that have been transfixing listeners everywhere show this unique and multi-talented artist has an incredible sound all her own.
Russo performs regularly as the rock violinist/vocalist/keyboard player in the blues/rock band "The Blake Thompson Band"-- check out gig dates on this site.
Educating America's Future: Kate also performs for schools across the country, educating kids and giving them a performance to remember -- if you are interested in having Kate perform at your school assembly, contact katerusso@yahoo.com for outline and more information...
PERFORMANCES WITH:
Gavin DeGraw, The Gin Blossoms, Clyde Stubblefield ("original funky drummer" of the James Brown Band), Big Brother & The Holding Company, Rick Danko, The Band, Ronnie Hawkins & The Hawks, Savoy Brown, Lonnie Mack, Vassar Clemens, James Cotton, Van Morrison, Medeski, Martin & Wood and others
OPENINGS FOR:
Edwin McCain, Cake, Poe, Sugar Ray, The Samples, David Crosby, Little Feat, Taj Mahal, The Derek Trucks Band, Delbert McClinton, Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers, Leo Kottke, Boney James, The Zombies, Arlo Guthrie, Richie Havens, Leslie West + Corky Lang and others
NATIONAL TV:
Late Night With Conan O'Brien with Ronnie Hawkins & The Hawks (NBC)
PERFORMANCES AT:
Clubs/Festivals/Concert Halls across US and in Canada including
*The Bottom Line, CBGB's, The Bitter End, Brownies, Mercury Lounge, Downtime, Arlene's Grocery, NYC-
*Markham Theatre, Ontario -
*Rock n Roll Marathon- San Diego and Phoenix -
*House Of Blues, B.B. King's, Los Angeles -
*Shank Hall, Milwaukee -
*Red River Opera House, Bash on Ash, Wrigley Mansion, Tempe+Phoenix -
*Smith Opera House, Geneva, NY -
*Jordan Hall, Johnny D's, Boston
*Philadelphia Museum Of Art
Colleges - Trinity, Worcester Polytech, U. of Wisconsin (Madison), Upper Iowa University, etc.
RADIO:
Sessions: Live On WDST / Woodstock, NY
Morning With The Wolf - WPDH / Poughkeepsie, NY
The Zone 101.5 F.M. - Phoenix, AZ
KNOT Radio (Internet)
Bowed Radio (Internet)
STUDIO:
Vocals, violin and keyboard studio session player on projects including The Gin Blossoms, The John Wilde Group (Nashville/England), Chuck Negron
INSTRUMENTS:
Vocals, acoustic violin, electric 5-string violin, keyboards, guitar, sax, clarinet, drums
STUDIES:
New England Conservatory of Music - Boston, MA
CLASSICAL:
Concertmaster of the New England Conservatory Youth Symphony
Asst. Concertmaster New Bedford Symphony
AWARDS:
National Endowment For The Arts- $50,000, 10-Month Rural Residency Grant with the Boccherini Ensemble
TEACHING/MASTERCLASSES:
NEA Grant, Midwest - K-12
Camp Cazadaro, CA 10-Adult
Links
