Russ's recording of his tune, "Little Monk," from his album, When at Last, nominated for the 2008 GRAMMY for Best Country Instrumental Performance! When at Last nominated for the 2008 IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) award for Instrumental Album of the Year!!
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Influences
Doc Watson, Clarence White, John Hurt, Alan Miller, John Miller, the Carter Family, Charlie Poole, Riley Puckett, Tony Trischka, Matt Glaser, Charlie Christian, Andy Statman, Paul Barenberg, Moacir Santos, Nathan Milstein, Bill Monroe, Jim and Jesse McReynolds, the New Lost City Ramblers, Kenny Baker, Charlie Parker, Django Reinhardt, Zoot Sims, Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, Rodney Miller, Aly Bain, Phil Cunningham, Jay Ungar, Molly Mason, Evan Stover, Cannonball Adderly, Sonny Rollins, Joao Gilberto, Buddy Guy, Otis Rush, Ruthie Dornfeld, Kevin Burke, De Dannan, Gerry Mulligan, Eric Dolphy, Sam Bush, Pete Wernick, the Stanley Bothers, Flatt and Scruggs, Jimmy Martin, Elizabeth Cotten, Andean flute music, French Canadian and Cape Breton fiddle music, Edgar Meyer, Maura O'Connell, Tim O'Brien, Mozart, Beethoven, New England contradance music and dancing.
Russ Barenberg's music is a treat for lovers of exquisite acoustic guitar and mandolin playing, and his compositions and arrangements are among the finest that new acoustic music has to offer. His distinctive style stands out as melodically inspired and meaningfully focused. Russ's flair for melody is strongly evident in his compositions, many of which are singable and memorable, often with an uncanny sense of inevitability or "rightness." While clear and direct, his music is broadly resonant, revealing a contemporary world only accessible by way of a deeply felt understanding of traditional music.
Russ made his recording debut in 1970 with bluegrass trailblazers, Country Cooking. Since then he has collaborated with the finest and most innovative acoustic musicians in the country in a process of continual evolution and discovery. He has produced and arranged three critically acclaimed albums of his own music for Rounder Records, and his newest release, When at Last, has just been released by Compass Records. Russ collaborated with Jerry Douglas and Edgar Meyer on their landmark recording, Skip, Hop & Wobble (Sugar Hill), and played in that celebrated trio throughout the late eighties and nineties. His playing can be heard in a variety of films, including Ken Burns’ PBS documentary series, The Civil War, where his sensitive touch contributes greatly to the effectiveness of that highly praised soundtrack.
Russ has contributed to projects ranging from commercial artists such as Randy Travis, to the traditional fiddle and dance music of Fiddle Fever, to the cutting edge productions of Jerry Douglas, Mark O'Connor, and Darol Anger. In addition to his recording work, he has written three guitar instruction books and is the featured instructor on several best-selling series of lessons available from Homespun Tapes, Russ is an excellent writer whose credits include articles for magazines such as Guitar Player and Frets, a regularly featured column in Guitar Extra magazine, program notes for events including the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, and album liner notes for Rounder Records and Sugar Hill Records. He has performed, led workshops, and appeared on radio and television throughout the United States as well as in Europe, the British Isles, Asia, and the Middle East. Russ currently lives in Nashville and in addition to freelancing and playing solo acoustic dates, plays regularly in a duo with guitarist Bryan Sutton.
"I got swept up in the folk and bluegrass revival in the sixties and am still riding the wave. I've had many wonderful opportunities over the years to work with amazing musicians, and I am very thankful for it. Love playing the guitar, love playing the mandolin, but particularly love writing and arranging tunes and then working with great musicians to bring them to life." --Russ
"Russ is such a solid player, and his soloing is so lyrical. He reminds me to keep a melodic idea strong in my solos. He’s one of those great improvisers, like Jerry Douglas and Stuart Duncan, that always have a great melody in their solos."—Bryan Sutton
"You’ll never find a better compositional style than this in the folk-chamber-jazz world, and Russ’s singing tone and incredibly well-constructed solos may never be topped."—Chris Proctor
"Russ is the melodic king. He can turn even an incoherent chord passage into a beautiful melody." –Jerry Douglas
"One of the most melodic instrumentalists in contemporary bluegrass." —Craig Harris, All Music Guide
It is a pleasure to have you as my MySpace friend… I find your MySpace page, your talent and your enthusiasm for music pleason’ to many… I welcome you’re other MySpace friends to visit my MySpace page that I’ve dedicated to my admiration of many talented guitar playing musicians of many styles… Stop by check it out and leave a comment if you like… Thanks Ken…
Hey Russ. You have been a big influence on me for a long time. Just love your picken. Thanks for all the years of great music you have given all of us.
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"Ticklin' The Strings" by Sweet Hollywaiians
Amazing Japanese hot string band playing 1920's, 30's, 40's style hawaiian, swing, calypso, blues, italian music and originals,featuring vintage instruments.3 songs with Robert Armstrong and Tony Marcus(from Robert Crumb and His Cheap Suit Serenaders)
"The Sweet Hollywaiians have probably the best feel for this 20's music of any string band working today. They manage the rare feat of sounding relaxed even when their playing is hot, are top notch musicians with tasteful arrangements and a full, rich, warm sound.Plus, they have a nice gamut of tunes, from King Nawahi to Giovanni Vicari to Bobby Leecan. See them live, if you can, for an unforgettable experience. If you can't, buy their Cds!" ~ Terry Zwigoff
HELLO RUSS… I FIND YOUR MYSPACE PAGE, YOUR TALANT AND YOUR ENTHUSIASIUM FOR PLAYING THE GUITAR VERY PLEASON’ TO MANY… IT IS WITH ADMIRATION OF YOUR GIFT THAT I’M HONORED TO HAVE YOU AS MY NEW MYSPACE GUITAR PLAYING FRIEND… I WELCOME YOU TO VISIT MYSPACE PAGE THAT I HAVE DEDICATED TO MY ADMIRATION OF MANY TALENTED GUITAR PLAYING MUSCIANS OF MANY STYLES… STOP BY CHECK IT OUT AND LEAVE A COMMENT IF YOU LIKE… KEEP ON PICKIN’… THANKS KEN…
