BILL RUSSO - Seven Deadly Sins

From 1960
Bill Russo proved to be the most successful of all the third stream composers because of his inclusive musical conception. He did not write in jazz or classical terms; he simply wrote music. Centred on the weekly rehearsal orchestra he ran from January 1959, the big band he assembled for these recordings is as it should beunder control, with beautifully nuanced dynamics of great power and delicacy. It was probing and serious, characteristics that had somehow become embarrassing during the Basie era, but deployed here without a trace of pretentiousness. And it swung. At first glance this was a conventional jazz big band, except for the cello section, but the sound that Russo extracted from it is remarkable.

The music from Seven Deadly Sins moves smoothly in an inevitable progression of organic growth, in a genuine third stream fusion of classical and jazz principles. It makes for richly rewarding listening.

Alto Saxophone – Meldonian*, Tony Buonpastore
Baritone Saxophone – Tony Ferina
Bass Trombone – Kenneth Guffey*
Cello – Avron Coleman, George Koutzen, Lorin Bernsohn, Seymour Barab
Clarinet – Collins* (tracks: B1), Meldonian* (tracks: A3), Glasel* (tracks: B4)
Composed By, Arranged By, Conductor – William Russo*
Double Bass – John Drew
Guitar – Howard Collins
Percussion – Ed Shaughnessy
Tenor Saxophone – Don Mikiten, Larry Wilcox
Trombone – Bill Elton, Don Sebesky, Eddie Bert, Mike Zwerin
Trumpet – Burt Collins, Danny Stiles, John Glasel, Lou Mucci*