artists
Russell, Grant
Grant Russell was born in Kent in 1987. By the age of five, he was having
piano lessons and, shortly after, began studying cello as well. Becoming a
familiar face in the musical community at his school, Grant's main focus
turned to composition and his new love, the double bass. He undertook bass
studies with his father, Ron Russell, a renowned jazz musician in his own
right. After various compositional successes (a pastiche of a Mozart piano
sonata being a personal favourite), Grant was planning to continue studying
composition but at the last, changed to double bass. Now a student at the
Royal Northern College of Music, Grant pursues classical studies with Jiri
Hudec (principal bassist of the Czech Philharmonic), and jazz studies with
Steve Berry. Growing up around the scene in London, Grant has played with
some of the giants of British jazz such as Sam Burke, Jim Douglas, Keith
Ingham and Digby Fairweather. Grant is now developing his own sound playing
regularly around Manchester, recent gigs including Matt and Phred's with the
Chris Illingworth Trio and jazz nights at Zoo Bar. Grant joined The
McNaughton Quintet in January.
