Interview of Russell K Shores
RUSSELL K. SHORES LS 5 Russell K Shores
Honestly, there is nothing I like better with my Smooth Jazz than bass… give me that low end, funky, growling groove and I’m hooked! Needless to say when we discovered LS 5, the latest album from Russell K. Shores, all it took was one listen to make me a fan! The New York native, now Austin, Texas resident, has an impressive resume… dubbed Thunder Baby by his peers for his thunderous grooves, Russell began paying bass at the age of 12... since he has earn a degree in music and has shared the stage with many greats including the legendary Diana Ross. His soulful new album, LS 5 is packed with rich melodies and deep grooves and thankfully, plenty of Russell’s expressive electric bass guitar! Favorite tracks for us are “No Stopping” and “Tynet,” and the irresistible cover of “I Shot the Sheriff”? LS 5… get real and put in on your iPad today!
The cd is quite musical, you have a strong groove and excellent tone. Smooth
and melodic.
Peace,Michael Tobias
MTD (Michael Tobias Design LLC)
3 Lauren Ct
Kingston, NY 12401 USA
845 246-0670
Russell K. Shores - LS 5 4/4
O's Notes: Russell K. Shores brings his bass to center stage owning the melodies on all seven tracks. The predominant groove is radio friendly 'quiet storm' with sampled riffs from 1980s R&B, fusion and pop tunes. There's a cool arrangement of "I Shot the Sheriff", and "Teen Town" has a nice pop. Shores takes it up a notch on "Tynet" working his bass hard! The band, Phil Chidester (keyboards), Mike Kocsacek (d), Tom Well (d) and Joel Guzman (keyboards), do fine job supporting the vision. In this case the remodeling is good!--
D. Oscar Groomes
O's Place Jazz Magazine
P.O. Box 38430
Charlotte, NC 28278
http://www.OsPlaceJazz.com
RUSSELL K. SHORES – L.S 5 (myspace.com/russellshores)
I’m listening to this perfectly mellow and soothing album after three hectic days of going over my grandmother’s house and taking care of her animals while she’s in the hospital being treated for an ulcer. I’m understandably tired and stressed out, but after hearing the beautifully lulling and relaxing smooth jazzy opening notes of the first track “No Stopping” I forget all about my current nerve-wracking situation and get totally caught up in the sumptuously rich, relaxing, and enrapturing gradual tempos and steady, yet subdued beats that bump along at a pleasingly kicked-back rate. Of course, the crisp and professional playing helps matters a whole lot, with funky keyboards, heavy trudging basslines, sturdy drums, and neatly percolating guitars seamlessly blending together to create a sweetly soulful and appealing lowdown groovy sound that’s impossible to either resist or dislike (the instrumental cover of “I Shot the Sheriff” in particular completely smokes in a marvelously easygoing sort of way). An excellent album.the world accordind to Wawrzyniak , Joe Wawrzyniak Jersey Beat
RUSSEL K. SHORES, LS 5
A collection of tasteful, jazzy alternative recordings, Russell jumped in with both feet on this one, and most of all, with some slamming finger & thump action!! I must say that for a debut CD, this artist is running neck and neck with many of the fabulous veterans of our music industry!
Russell’s renditions of “I Shot The Sheriff” and “Ain’t No Stopping Us Now” have his own luscious vibe and creativity. His originals, such as LS 5 ” and “Tynet,” have their own sweet funky flavor but the vibe still shouts out ALL THAT JAZZ! I must say that at the root of Russell’s music, cover tunes as well as originals, his bottom-end-flow is as grand as Niagara Falls! Keep keeping on, Russell, because there ain’t no stopping you now!
This review was written by Danna Starr, former host of KAZI 88.7 FM’S, award-winning “Juice & Jam” show.
Russell K Shores–L.S 5: Seven songs in a flurry of jazz, funk, soul and blues tows up this album. Written for his wife, Lola, it’s compilation of old favorites and new compositions that are both uplifting and refreshing. His peers call him “Thor” or “Thunder baby” for his thunderous grooves– and the reason why is reflected quite nicely on this release.4.5 McRiprock’s
“It is so refreshing to hear a bassist who has both an amazing sense of groove and melody, but that is what Russell Shores brings to the table with his new CD “LS5”. The songs are very well-crafted and impeccably performed. This is one of those CDs that I liked the very first time I listened to it, and I think you will too.”
Dale Titus
MTD Kingston Artist Relations Manager
Former Editor of Bass Frontiers Magazine
Former instructor at the Bass Institute of Technology
Edo Castro January 18 at 11:47am Russell here is my review.
"Russell K. Shores "LS - 5"
Russell has been threatening to release upon on us an Album of his tunes and he's made good on his promise. A richly orchestrated 7 song CD that is nothing short of beautiful.
First let me say that Russell's playing is superbly eloquent, melodic and if there's a pocket he's got your back. I love his playing because it is quintessential: Everything you need as a solid, expressive and artistic player can be heard in his playing. There's no windfall of notes and battery of chops. Just tasteful playing. That is artistic maturity my friends, bar none.
There are 2 favorite cuts of mine:
No Stopping, is a gorgeous octave double stop melody which breaks into
a sensual slap solo. Melodic has not left the room my friends. He's still playing a tune for you and it's right.Teen Town. Now if you're going to cover a tune, I say play it differently or don't bother. Different indeed. Russell notches DOWN the tempo! And lights us up with a laid back, in the pocket version that NO one has ever played. (Usually it's at break neck speed and just ridiculously self indulgent.) Not hear my friends. His melodic phrasing on Teen Town is just thoughtful and expressive.
Biased? Yes. I am a bass player.
Thank you Russell for making good on your promise."
But only to that degree. There's no need to make up
false praise. Russell is a formidable bassist who yields to the song
and lets the music live through him.
Edo Castro July 21 at 3:03pm Hey dude
I just wanted to say in all honesty, you're one of the cats. you've got a great vibe in your sound. You can make that MTD bass sing. I've owned a few of them and I couldn't make it sound like that.
But that's what it's all about right? Making your own voice. Keep up the good work my bass man.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
I Got the Bass Fo' Yo' FaceIf you know me personally, you may know I have one weakness (to which I will admit): the bass guitar. I'll admit, I don't particularly discriminate. However, I know what I DO like. I know a good bass line when I hear one. And, here, I present to you: my favorite basslines as of late. You don't even have to especially love the sound of a bass to appreciate these tunes, although, if you do you will be quite pleased. Whatever you think, you'll agree these bass lines are in no way subtle.
I have no reference of technical terms. Therefore, I will explain them in my (a bass-lover's) terms.
AutoVaughn - On the Radio (The most groovy low-lights I've ever heard. A super underrated band, and one you will get to know. Nashville, TN. Check 'em out)
Communiqué - My Bay (These bass lines just groove with the tune. You know it's a good bass line when you couldn't imagine the tune without it.)
Cut Copy - The Twilight (Hands down, the best bass break-down I've ever heard at 3:21. Well, this song is mostly bass. Surprised it's my favorite?)
Late of the Pier - Broken (This one makes me feel like I'm in an outdoor concert, the band's collective hair is blowing back as they gnaw at their instruments. The bass is be-a-u-tee-ful.)
Fenix, TX - Threesome (I've never heard a better chorus bass line that is so friendly to the lead guitar, yet keeping in line with the rhythm sect. Perfect.)
Phoenix - (You Can't Blame it On) Anybody (You want bass with a soul that's usually relegated to the '70s and that grinds so good, you'd swear there wasn't even a drummer? Here ya go. My very favorite bass groove at the mome.)
Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - Hideaway/Rude Mood (Live at Montreux) (This shit grooves like nobody's bus. This is my favorite bassist of all time, Tommy Shannon, who sounds like he's chewing an eagle when he plays the bass. I love that gritty, gnawing sound his bass produces. Plus, this is the best blues tune(s) ever made and the best guitar riff I have ever heard occurs at 5:13. Followed by the best bass riff ever.)
And here's your special treat. I had the very wonderful pleasure of seeing Mel Davis and the Blues Specialists on Labor Day weekend at the Arcadia Blues Festival. Let me TELL you, I saw the BEST bassist I have seen, maybe ever. His name is Russell K. Shores. And you may know that funk is what initially drew me into the bass guitar. This band blends nicely blues and funk and Russell straight riffs and funks on that bass. I swear this link does him NO justice, but go here anyway and see for yourself :http://www.myspace.com/russellkshores. Push 'play' on Thunder Bass and you'll get a taste.
I left out a bunch of my favorites. Maybe a Part Deux is in the works?
Posted by AMP at 11:13 PM 0 comments
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Published on 08-04-20103 Comments
Rev. Russell K. Shores
Native New Yorker Rev. Russell Kenji Shores has a varied and impressive resume. Nick-named Thor or Thunder Baby by his peers for his thunderous grooves, he began playing bass at age twelve. A few years later, armed with a degree in music, he began a professional career during which he has shared the stage with Diana Ross, Julian Lennon, Unified Tribe, The Kevin Fowler band, Lucid Dream, The Steve O'Neil band, The Major Burkes band, The ACC jazz band, The Blues Specialists, Elliott Fikes and Soul Serenade.
As musical director, Russell has played with Austin Alibi, Wesley United Methodist Church, The First Baptist Church, Mt. Zion Baptist Church, and The Freedom Home Baptist Church Mass Choir under the leadership of Pastor O.B Howard Jr.
Russell also serves on the staff as the electric and contra bass teacher at the Academy of Music in Austin Tx. Russell plays and has the endorsement of M.T.D basses and U. S. Master Guitar fretless bass as well as MTD strings and Visual Sound pedals, E.A Amps, and AccuGroove speaker cabs. Check 'em out!
http://www.mtdbass.com/
http://www.usmasters.com/epibasses.htm
http://www.mtdbass.com/pages/strings.html
http://www.visualsound.net/
http://www.accugroove.com/
http://www.eaamps.com/
From Russell's MySpace site:
"Russell K Shores learned to play the bass when a friend pointed out he was only playing the first four strings on his electric guitar. This is how natural-born bassists are discovered!
Now Russell displays his considerable skills on an album of seven songs that is as refreshing and uplifting as it is dazzling.
The album – ‘L.S 5’ – was written for his wife Lola, but it is more like a present for the world of music. A combination of jazz, funk, soul and blues, of new compositions and old favorites, it is as good a debut album as you are likely to hear this year.
His talent for bass has earned Russell rave reviews from people who know their apples. And all that talent is evident on this collection. From accomplished covers such as ‘I Shot The Sheriff’ and ‘Ain’t No Stopping Us Now’ to his own slap-happy tunes, every one of the tracks is guaranteed to be loved by bass aficionados and casual listeners alike.
Taking his inspiration from legends of the low tones such as Stanley Clarke, Chuck Rainey and Jaco Pastorius, and armed with a degree in music, Russell both learns from the greats and contributes something new to the pantheon.
Having made music and performed since the age of 12, and having shared a stage with the likes of Diana Ross and Julian Lennon, Russell is ready to step out of the shadows and show what he is capable of."
He might have picked up the bass by accident, but the same can be said of most bassists. On second thoughts, I think this album is proof that maybe there was no accident after all…
Check it out! http://www.myspace.com/russellkshores
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Publish Date: August 6, 2010, 10:46 pm
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LESSON: Bassic Blues - 1-2-4 Fingering and the 4 Most Important Notes
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HOME: OCTOBER 22, 2010: MUSIC
Texas Platters
Rhythm & Beats
Russell K. Shores
LS 5
Austin bassman Russell K. Shores slaps and taps his way through a cool seven-song set of jazz-rock on a solo debut for serious jazz- and bass-heads. The local quintet gives "I Shot the Sheriff" a workout and takes a trip to Weather Report's synth-laden "Teen Town." The live bluesy closer, while of dubious recording quality, names the game: "Thunder Bass."
