The Shook/Russo Quartet has been
working together for nearly two years in the
Baltimore/Washington, D.C. area. Their focus has
always been to compose and perform their own original
music within the jazz idiom, honoring the masters by
carrying on the tradition. The group has developed an
incredible and unique sound by merging the diverse
backgrounds of each of these fine musicians into one
voice. The result is a whirlwind of grooves,
melodies, and diverse textures that are a true delight
to hear.
Joining the quartet on their debut album is trumpeter
Greg Gisbert. Greg is one of the leading young
trumpeters in the international jazz scene, performing
frequently with many of today's popular jazz artists.
From 1984 throughout the 90s, Greg played with Buddy
Rich, Woody Herman, Gary Burton, John-Fedchock, Maria
Schneider, Toshiko Akiyoshi, the Mingus Epitaph, Frank
Wess, Mickey Tucker, the Buck Clayton Big Band, and
Clark Terry. He has also freelanced with the likes of
vocalists Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Mel Torme,
Joe Williams, Sammy Davis Jr, and Tony Bennett.
In early 2005, the quartet invited Greg to a session,
and everyone hit it off immediately, both
personality-wise and musically. They decided then and
there whenever Greg was in town and available, that
they would play. When Greg came back through the area
later that year to perform with the Dizzy Gillespie
United Nations Orchestra, the quartet booked a gig at
49 West Cafe in Annapolis, invited Greg, and they
played to a packed house. They decided the following
day to head to the studio and record in the hopes of
capturing the magic of the previous night's
performance. They did just that.
Amy Shook was born and raised in Idaho, and attended
the University of Idaho (where she met her husband,
saxophonist Pat Shook), studying music at the Lionel
Hampton School of Music, where she earned two
bachelor's degrees and a masters in music. She is now
one of the most in-demand upright bassists in the
Baltimore/Washington, D.C. area, coveted for her huge
sound and driving groove. She is an incredibly
versatile musician who enjoys playing jazz standards
as well as new music by her local collegues. She is
an accomplished composer, and her personality truly
comes through in her writing. She has received
national recognition in reviews of the album
"Uncertain Path" by the Rob Levit Trio, a trio she
performs regularly in with drummer Frank Russo. As a
result, she was featured in Bassics magazine on their
CD Sampler published with the magazine.
Pat Shook, originally from Spokane, Washington, holds
a bachelor's from the University of Idaho, and a
master's from the University of North Texas, where he
performed in the famed One O'Clock Lab Band. He is
currently the lead tenor player in the Army Jazz
Ambassadors, and is admired by his collegues and local
musicians for his incredible technique, his fantastic
skills in improvisation, and his composing. His
compositions display his roots in tradition as well as
the inspiration of today's modern masters, and are
great vehicles that are showcases for each soloist.
Frank Russo, originally from the New York City area,
is one of the premier drummers in the
Baltimore/Washington, D.C. area. He completed a
distinguished career with the Naval Academy Band, has
toured internationally, and is currently the professor
of Drum Set Studies at both Towson University and
Shepherd University. Because of his incredible
adaptability and excellent sight-reading skills, Frank
is highly in demand and is an integral part of every
group he performs with. He has developed his own
voice on the drums, and is sought after for the
integrity he brings to the music. His previous
recordings have gained national recognition in
publications such as Downbeat, Jazztimes, and Modern
Drummer.
Tim Young, originally from Virgina, is starting to
make his mark in the jazz world. After completing his
education at the University of North Texas, Tim
returned back to the east coast to serve as pianist
with the Army Jazz Ambassadors of Washington, D.C.
Tim has held this position for the past seven years.
Tim is a sought-out player because of his ability to
adapt to any musical situation. His style covers just
about all, and his reverence for the music is very
evident in both his playing and his writing.
Collectively, the members of the [group] have
performed extensively throughout the United States, as
well as performed in Canada, Mexico, Asia, Europe, and
the Caribbean and at festivals such as the Lionel
Hampton Jazz Festival, the Ottawa Jazz Festival, the
Stan Getz Jazz Festival, and the East Coast Jazz
Festival to name a few. A partial list of artists
that they have collectively performed with includes:
Lionel Hampton, Maureen McGovern, Monica Mancini, John
Davidson, Donald O'Connor, Dee Daniels, Jane Jarvis,
Lanny Morgan, Claudio Roditi, Al Grey, Bill Watrous,
John Stowell, Steve Swallow, Charles McPhearson, "Doc"
Cheatham, Rebecca Parris, Joe LaBarbera, Lou Marini,
Ben Vereen, Greg Gisbert, Jae Sinnett, Dr. Lonnie
Smith, Hal Crook, Keter Betts, Ethel Ennis, Bill
McHenry, Dave Ballou, and Slide Hampton.
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