Russ Mullen and the Jazz Associates are taking the stage Sunday, August 24, at 5 pm on the lawn in front of City Hall for Jazz on the Lawn's fourth fun-filled evening of jazz this summer.
Russ Mullen has not only excelled as a musician, but also as a teacher and inspiration to youth in Santa Monica. Russ teaches full-time at John Adams Middle School and directs the John Adams Middle School Jazz Band and Jazz Workshop in Santa Monica - work for which he has been honored by the California State Legislature and the City of Santa Monica.
He has been a teacher and member of the Board of Directors for Jazz America, a non-profit organization where LA jazz legends teach and mentor gifted high school jazz musicians.
Russ has also been honored by the Los Angeles City Council for his work with the after school music program at Le Conte Middle School in Hollywood, working with the Los Angeles Center for Educational Research to help start a summer jazz enrichment program at Washington Irving Middle School in East LA, and for performing in an all-star band made up mostly of Duke Ellington alumni in a series of concerts to commemorate Duke Ellington's 100th birthday.
A natural talent, Russ started playing the piano when he was four years old, the trumpet in junior high and he taught himself the other brass instruments shortly thereafter. By the time he was in high school he was playing professionally.
Since then he has toured the U.S. and Canada with several successful bands, performed at a number of music festivals, and has played or recorded with such artists as Dion Ferris, Guitar Shorty, Nijite and the Olodum Prophecy, Little Sister, Carman, Big City and Buddy Collette, as well as being an opening act for major artists including the Pointer Sisters and Jefferson Starship.
Russ Mullen and the Jazz Associates got its start when fate brought the members of the group together to talk about something they all loved: jazz music. They have since performed throughout the Southern California area. The members of the band are:
For more information contact All About Jazz.
