Don Russo - Bassist
Don Russo has paid far more than the usual dues in his journey as a Jazz Bassist.  Music has always been his life’s quest, from his first vocal stage performances at the age of 5 and his first stint in a band as a guitarist at age 10 through his permanent connection with the bass, formed at age 18.  His major influences include Percy Heath, Charles Mingus, Scott Lafaro, Ron Carter, and Charlie Haden.

Don studied the bass for four years with Wendell Rudolph, and then expanded his education with instruction from Charles Siani of the San Francisco Symphony and Walter Hardman of the New York Philharmonic Symphony and the Detroit Symphony.  He was awarded a full Ford Tuition Scholarship to the Detroit Institute of Musical Arts, where he majored in Bass. He was also a member of The Jackson Michigan 15 piece Jazz Orchestra led by Dr. Don Wes.

It was during his studies at the Detroit Institute that fate intervened and nearly ended a promising musical career before it had begun. While waiting for a bus after class, he was mugged, and in the process of defending himself, he sustained a gunshot wound to his left hand.  For years, he put his musical dreams on hold, earning his living in the world of business while pursuing physical and mental rehabilitation and privately nurturing his hampered dream.  Undaunted persistence and his passion for music saw him through several years of rehabilitation, and with considerable effort his journey resumed. In 2005 the Russo Alberts Trio released “Rejuvenation”, marking Don’s reemergence in the music scene.

Don has played with many of the greats.  In Detroit, he performed with Bubby Hatchet, Marcus Belgrave, Dan Turner, and Leon Hatkins.  In San Francisco, he has been a member of the Virgil Gonsalves Quartet and the Don Alberts Quartet, and is currently a member of the Russo Alberts Trio.  He has also performed in San Francisco with Art Lewis, Vi Redd, Dewey Redman, Larry Vucovich, Norman Williams, and the legendary Scatman Crothers. He was also house bassist for Gilmore Recording Studio and Jimbo’s Bop City, as well as a frequent performer at Soulsville and Haight Levels in San Francisco.

Don Russo’s recordings include three CDs:  Virgil Gonsalves Quartet (to be released), Don Alberts Trio 63 (to be released), and “Rejuvenation” by the Russo Alberts Trio, released in 2005.

Don plays 7/8 Ren’e Cune 1957 bass, with set up by David Gage String Instruments, and a Realist Pickup.

Don Alberts - Pianist
Don Alberts grew up playing in the San Francisco jazz clubs which exposed him to the challenging music of Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Bud Powell. Much of this music became his foundation and a style rooted deeply in bebop and the blues. The romantic side of his playing comes from the influence of pianist Bill Evans.

Don has shared the bandstand with many great musicians: Leroy Vinnegar, Chet Baker, Shorty Rogers, Bud Shank, David Friesen, John Handy, Bobby Shew, Francis Vanek, Al Molina, Vince Lateano, Bruce Foreman, John Stowel, Virgil Gonsalves and others. Don was also house pianist at the famous Bop City in San Francisco.

A native of the San Francisco area, he attended San Jose City College as a music major and studied with Thomas Ryan at San Jose State. Don has appeared in many JAZZ venues and major festivals throughout the Northwest and Canada including the "Mount Hood Festival Of Jazz" in Portland, Oregon.

Beginning piano at the age of ten, his earliest influence was the Boogie Woogie style of Mary Lou Williams. His favorites; Teddy Wilson, Earl Hines, Errol Garner, George Shering, Nat Cole, Oscar Peterson, Bud Powell, Hampton Hawes, Red Garland, McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock, Sonny Clark, Chic Corea, and Mulgrew Miller.

Awards: Don has received the prestigious ASCAP 2005 Jazz Composers Award for his recent book "Don Alberts Original Jazz Compositions Volume Five" published by Chill House Music 2004. Don is included in the historic photo "The San Francisco Giants of JAZZ."

Art Lewis - Drums
Born in New Orleans, Art Lewis began his career in San Francisco, where he studied under Philly Joe Jones. He played at many local clubs, including Jimbo’s Famous Bop City, which was the major club at the time. He moved to New York in 1968 and played with many of the more prominent modern jazz players at clubs like the Village Vanguard, Slug’s, Ali’s Alley, The Tin Palace, The Public Theater, Jazz Workshop, and more.

While Philly Joe counts as a major influence on Art’s style, Max Roach, Kenny Clarke, Tony Williams, and Jack De Johnette are drummers who he respects and is closest to in style and feeling. Additionally, extensive study of African sources has given him a sense of how melodic line can be created with drums, and his later style has developed with this as its goal.

Art has worked and recorded with many of the major players in the music world, including Dewey Redman, Dexter Gordon, Clifford Jordan, Jon Hendricks, Sam Rivers, Andrew Hill, Bobby Hutcherson, John Handy, and Joe Lee Wilson

Throughout his career his work has been reviewed in the New York Times, the Village Voice, Jazz Podium (West Germany), Washington Post, Melody Maker (London), and Down Beat.

He has toured extensively throughout Europe, the United States and the Mid-East. He is considered one of the premier drummers in the new music.