'Miss Russell gave an exhuberant, even astonishing display of vocal pyrotechnics-- this was Tina Turner meets Dee Dee Bridgewater with a touch of Ella and Sassy (Sarah Vaughan) and a Covent Garden colouratura thrown in to the melting pot.'
(Lance Liddle, 'Bebop Spoken Here' Blogsite)
'Sandi is in striking form... A masterclass of top-notch jazz... for Sandi's peerless vocal.'
(Musician, Spring)
‘A formidable vocal force, expat American Russell breathes new life into the most familiar materials’
(Guardian, Spring)
‘This unique vocalist … [with] a seemingly limitless variety of embellishments’
David Miele, Jazz Improv
(New York)
‘If you thought Billie Holiday took phrasing to its hair-raising limits, think again!’
Humphrey Lyttleton,
Best of Jazz
(BBC Radio 2)
'Breathtaking experience'
Bruce Crowther,
Jazz Journal International
'Nobody Got Off Scat-Free' Sandi Russell is to be commended for organising this, the first Musicon Durham Jazz Festival. The event took place at St Chad's College - a seat of learning only a wing and a prayer away from the cathedral, the castle and the prison.
Not that Ms Russell took any prisoners. Looking very svelte in a beige posh cardi with gold decorations and brown trousers - the epitome of cool - the Harlem born, Dunelmian resident, gave an exuberant, even astonishing, display of vocal pyrotechnics - this was Tina Turner meets Dee Dee Bridgewater with a touch of Ella and Sassy (Sarah Vaughan) and a Covent Garden coloratura thrown in to the melting pot - an outré performance!
Lance Liddle (Bebop Spoken Here)
‘An extraordinary singer’ Lionel Hampton
‘Magnetic, moving’ Johnny Hartman
‘Big voice, big presence’ Geoffrey Smith (Jazz Record Requests, BBC Radio 3)
‘Sandi Russell achieves a compelling swing’
Humphrey Lyttleton (Best of Jazz, BBC Radio 2)
‘A commanding presence’ Bruce Crowther (Jazz Journal, UK)
‘This unique vocalist … an entertaining singer … smart and savvy’
Dave Miele (Jazz Improv, USA)
‘Sandi Russell was the hit of the evening’ Robert Maycock (The Independent)
‘Sandi Russell is a class act’ John Fordham (Guardian)
‘Sandi Russell is strictly superb’ Jack Lloyd (Philadelphia Enquirer)
‘Bright, strong voice and an awareness of the emotive power of a lyric’
Richard Sudhalter (New York Post)
‘Ms Russell personifies the maxim that the human voice is the most expressive of all musical instruments’
Matthew Wells (Darlington & Stockton Times)
‘Everyone ought to hear Sandi Russell’ Alan Twelftre (Metro Radio)
Sandi
Russell
Jazz Singer, Writer & Educator