John Russell

A lasting figure on the British free improvisation scene, guitarist John Russell was, like his compatriot Roger Smith, the quiet type. Since the mid-'70s, he was constantly active in and around London, and also behind the scenes as a teacher and concert organizer. But his signature style was heard in Chris Burn's Ensemble, in the John Butcher-Phil Durrant-John Russell trio, and in duos with Roger Turner and Stefan Keune. His musical activities were better documented from the mid-'90s onward. Russell (born on December 19, 1954) got his first guitar at age 11. In 1971, he was a...