Album Notes

Bob Russell, Kevin Kolb and Arlin Strader have been friends for several years and have played music often in various combinations. Only in the last couple of years have they had the chance to work much as a trio. After about two gigs, they recognized that they had "something different" on their hands and decided, at the urging of excited listeners, to get it recorded before it got away!

"...if you never..." is the first CD release by the Bob Russell Trio. Unlike Russell's first solo release,"Watch This!", "...if you never..." is a completely live studio recording. Each cut is a continuous trio performance. There were very few "takes" and no overdubbing or splicing. Fans of improvised music will appreciate the resulting "in the moment" feel; interplay and group spirit are firmly in evidence throughout.

A May 2006 review from "Just Jazz Guitar" magazine says:

...if you never...   Bob Russell Trio

   This second self-produced CD by Bob Russell shows that there are definitely some fine players who are teachers as well. Russell is on the faculty of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, NC. His former home base was Atlanta, GA, where he appeared in such varied musical settings as the Atlanta Pops, Little Anthony, and the Paul Winter Consort.
   He is joined on this recording by keyboardist Kevin Kolb and drummer Arlin Strader. Both gentlemen fulfill their roles equally well as supporting players and soloists. The first selection is "Beautiful Love," which swings right along at a nice comfortable tempo. Russell has a very solid single-note approach and a traditional jazz tone. His lines and phrasing are boppish in nature, very well designed and superbly executed. The Trio's treatment of the Beatles classic, "Eleanor Rigby," has a wonderful pop feeling and sound reminiscent of the 1960s version by Wes Montgomery.
   There are two Russell originals: "This Week's Waltz" and "Too Much". His compositions have a somewhat modern harmonic structure. These tunes also shift to a freer musical style similar to that of Pat Metheny. "Bessie's Blues," "Inutil Paisagem," and a bossa verson of "When You Wish Upon a Star" round out the session.
   This is a very nice effort by Russell and his trio. It is always refreshing to experience a fine new player with a unique voice. - Vince Lewis