Russ Meissner

Noah Baerman had played jazz with Russ Meissner dating back to 1993. A few years later, Mr. B heard Russ jamming on Maceo Parker's "Shake Everything You Got" and knew immediately that Russ was just the sort of funky, versatile drummer that could anchor a soul unit like the Boogie Band.

Russell Meissner, originally from Toronto, Canada, has been part of the New York music scene since 1995. As a versatile freelance musician he has performed with both jazz and pop groups at New York venues such as The Knitting Factory, The Blue Note, Zinno, Irving Plaza, The Supper Club and CB's gallery and The Mercury Lounge. He recently toured Japan with saxophonist Matt Renzi and performed at the North By North East festival in Toronto, Canada with singer/songwriter Django Haskins. He has toured across the United States with Restless Records Recording artist Lori Carson playing in almost every major city. He has also toured Europe with Sunna Gunnlaugsdottir. As an educator, he has been on the drum faculty at the National Guitar Workshop since 1996 and he is also an accompanist at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center.

Noah says: working with "meat-head" drummers can be a real chore sometimes. Russ is a producer's dream -- he's a musician who happens to play drums. Yet he can still lay down a rock-solid beat with the best of them.
Mr. B says: how can I help but shake my groove thang when Russ plays his grooves? I can't, that's how.

Mr. B's CD pick: listen to Russ wail on Los Gatos.
(to hear for yourself, click here or visit the Mr. B's Boogie Band sound samples page)

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