“Long one of the best…postbop practitioners in New York.” Chicago Reader “Leading his new Headlands band, Johnson offers a wide range of expression, from his brilliant opening fanfare to the lyricism listeners have come to expect from him.” Chicago Tribune “The effect of Johnson’s compositions was an almost instantaneous provocation of interest.” The Examiner “Johnson plays a hard-swinging strain of postbop-brawny yet sophisticated, tartly melodic yet probing.” Chicago Reader “Trumpeter Russ Johnson has been all over the progressive jazz map. He's been an A-list performer for several years.” All About Jazz “…the dude can play some serious trumpet” Chicago Reader “…particularly Russ Johnson’s lyrical, deeply melodic trumpet lines—invariably lifts the music to another realm.” Down Beat Magazine "…a trumpeter of keen sensitivities and questing spirit” Chicago Tribune TRUMPETER •• COMPOSER •• EDUCATOR Trumpeter Russ Johnson is a recent Midwest transplant after spending 23 years as an important member of New York City’s jazz community. He has 7 recordings as a leader or co-leader and performed on more than 75 recordings as a sideman. Russ has worked alongside many of the legendary figures in jazz including Lee Konitz, Steve Swallow, Bill Frisell, and Joe Lovano. In addition, he has recorded and/or performed with a long list of the most prominent musicians currently on the international jazz scene, including Myra Melford, Ken Vandermark, and Tony Malaby. Russ has performed in more than 40 countries across the globe. His groups have recently performed at the Chicago, Winter Jazz Fest (NYC) Hyde Park, (Chicago) and Bergamo, (Italy) jazz festivals.   His most recent recordings, Meeting Point (Relay Recordings) and Still Out To Lunch! (Enja Records) received 4 1/2 & 4 stars respectively from Down Beat Magazine and appeared on many “Best Recordings of 2014/5” lists including Down Beat, the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Reader, NYC Jazz Record and Magnet magazine. Russ will be releasing a new recording by his “Headlands” Quartet in 2017.   Russ is also active as an educator/clinician, having taught at colleges and universities across the U.S. and Europe. He currently serves as Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Wisconsin Parkside where he won the university wide “Stella Gray” Teaching Excellence award in 2016.