The official CD release party for singer/songwriter Claudia Russell’s fourth CD brings her special brand of folk music to the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley on Wednesday, April 24, at 8 pm. The CD, All Our Luck Is Changing, is produced by Peter Case.
Russell and her band, The Folk Unlimited Orchestra, are Bay Area audience favorites with nationwide appeal—not only was Russell named Best Musician in the 2006 East Bay Express Reader’s Poll but was named Best New Artist by Boston Radio station WUMB. She and her band play an eclectic blend of folk woven from blues, country, pop, western swing and traditional music to form a unique, compelling sound. Her expressive voice is as much at home on a whispery ballad as a full-tilt Buddy Holly-styled romp. All Our Luck Is Changing was recorded in Hollywood with renowned songwriter and producer Peter Case producing. “Claudia is an excellent singer and songwriter with a great sense of detail that I really appreciate,” says Case. “Her storytelling has really come into its own on this record.”
Russell shares the evening (and for the evening, her band) with her long time friend, songwriter Dan Navarro, best known for co-writing the ballad “We Belong” made popular by Pat Benetar. A third-generation singer, Russell has shared the stage with Peter Rowan, Tish Hinojosa, Willie Nelson, Dave Alvin and Rosalie Sorrel. Her father, Val Rosing, sang with the San Francisco Opera Company and was notable as the original vocalist on such BBC Orchestra 1930s hits such as “Teddy Bears Picnic” and the first recorded rendition of “Try a Little Tenderness.” Her grandfather, Vladmir Rosing was a Russian opera singer and performed at Carnegie Hall, the Hollywood Bowl and taught opera to U.S. soldiers during WW II. Russell can be heard online at www.claudiarussell.com or on YouTube.
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Playing with Russell on April 24 (aka The Folk Unlimited Orchestra) will be Carl Byron on piano, Tom Talley on viola, Bruce Kaplan on mandolin and guitar, Paul Olguin on acoustic bass with Russell on acoustic guitar and vocals. See Russell and her band, the Folk Unlimited Orchestra, Wednesday, April 24 at 8 pm at Freight & Salvage, 2020 Addison Street in Berkeley.
