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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZRUSSELL, Pee Wee(b Charles Ellsworth Russell, 27 March '06, Maple Wood MO; d 15 Feb. '69, Alexandria VA) Reeds, mainly clarinet; a unique stylist who managed to play progressive even though mostly stuck in dixieland contexts. Playing all over the Midwest and East with Red Nichols, Bix Beiderbecke, Ben Pollack and many others, he had phenomenal technique, which lessened (he always drank heavily) but his playing became more interesting harmonically, his ability to structure a logical solo (incl. a cliff-hanging element) never wavering. From '37 he located in NYC, mostly playing with Eddie Condon, his deeply lined and sadly comical face distracting from his music in the context of dixieland for businessmen. Pee Wee Russell And His Rhythmakers was a limited edition octet session made in '38, with Max Kaminsky and James P. Johnson, later combined on Fantasy with a Jack Teagarden session; he shone in Bud Freeman's Summa Cum Laude orchestra '39 ('I've Found A New Baby', 'China Boy'), with Condon and Kaminsky. In '62 he broke out with a pianoless quartet incl. Marshall Brown on trombone (b 21 Dec. '20, Framingham MA), also recorded with Oliver Nelson, a duet with Jimmy Giuffre (in Columbia LP The Sound Of Jazz), soon toured and recorded with Condon again, Bobby Hackett, UK trad bands, his playing never less than memorable. Also recorded with Ruby Braff, Wild Bill Davison etc. Portrait Of Pee Wee had '58 tracks with Braff, Freeman, Nat Pierce, Vic Dickenson etc originally on Counterpoint, Xanadu, Stere-O-Craft (Pee Wee Plays Pee Wee) variously combined on Fresh Sound, DCC Jazz and a Rockin' Chair CD called Pee Wee's Combos made in Switzerland with notes in Spanish, found in bargain bins. The Individualism Of Pee Wee Russell on Savoy also had Braff; then New Groove on Columbia; Ask Me Now, College Concert and Spirit Of '67 on Impulse (two-disc Salute To Newport later on MCA); also Jam Session In Swingville and Memorial Album on Prestige, Pee Wee Russell on Archive of Folk, Jazz Reunion on Candid. Commodore small-group sides (incl. Three Deuces trio with Joe Sullivan and Zutty Singleton '41) on Columbia Special Products with alternate takes. Biography Pee Wee Russell by Robert Hilbert '93. |