Professor Nick Russo (guitar, banjo, mandolin, ukulele, dobro/resonator/slide, bass, drums, composition)
-With over 20 years teaching experience, Nick is patient with children & adults. He has a creative, unique pedagogy emphasizing hearing through singing, ear-training & natural, organic listening. Nick instills healthy absorption of music while students have fun learning their music, sight reading, internalizing with focus on rhythm & time.
-Currently, adjunct professor at Essex College, on staff via Kupferberg Center (Queens College): Jazz Project clinician for over 14 years, Great Neck Music Conservatory; private lessons: Forest Hills.
-Performs: Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Iridium, Bluenote, Birdland, U.N., IAJE, Cape Cod Jazz Festival, NJPAC, Sweet Rhythm, Smalls, Zinc Bar, Smoke Jazz Club, Boom; internationally: Japan, Spain, Russia, Brasil, St. Kitts, Canada, France, Bermuda & Sweden (Dec 2012).
-Toured/worked as sideman w/Jimmy McGriff, Teddy Charles, Sonny Dallas, Victor Jones, Vince Giordano & The Night Hawks, Frank Vignola/Joe Ascione, Miles Griffith, David Pleasant, Kim Clarke, Jim Nolet & others.
-Appears in Sam Mendes Film "Away We Go"
-Movie Soundtrack: King George.
-Guitar/banjo: "Jew Grows in Brooklyn," "Take Me Along," "The Big Apple Circus" + others.
-Banjo/Guitar Chair: "New Girl In Town" (Irish Rep Theatre)
-Author: Metallica Legendary Licks series,v.1&2) (Cherry Lane Music/Hal Leonard)
-Editor: GRP chords (Cherry Lane Music/Hal Leonard).