Somewhere In Between

RUSSELL TAYLOR
PRESS KIT
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Rooted in Philadephia and settled in New
York City, Russell Taylor was enveloped by a
rich musical legacy. From Gamble and Huff
to Michael Jackson, songs of emotional love,
social commentary and just having a good
time provided a foundation for one of the most
talented singers/ songwriters bubbling under
the radar. His music moves between nouveau
soul and vintage blues with a caramel smooth
ease, moving audiences through an emotional
journey with each show!
First introduced to fans in 2000, Russell
Taylor was featured on the Ministry of Sound
Collection with Fool for Love, a top 10 single
on the European charts. He then released Last
Dance on Rise/ Virgin Records, produced by
the Basement Boys. His success on the Euro
charts left an insatiable thirst to produce music
that stems from the American soul movement,
yet transcends continental barriers. His stateside musical journey has lead him to share stages
with the likes of Lalah Hathaway, Tweet, Musiq
Soulchild, Donnie, N’Dambi, Trina Broussard,
Eric Roberson, Laurnea, India Arie, Jaguar Wright,
and Mary J. Blige among other great artists that
have impacted international markets. Painted with
blues, rock ‘n roll, hip-hop and spiritual soul,
Russell Taylor’s artistry is embodied in the sound
and shared with the greater goal of bridging gaps.
Stay tuned for the continued success of his
independent debut release, Somewhere In
Between.
CONTACTING RUSSELL TAYLOR
[email protected] | russelltaylor.net | myspace.com/russelltaylor
BOOKINGS INDIGO BLUE MUSIC
Mike Wyche o 212 234 6028 C 202 423 5856 | [email protected]
Russell Taylor
Somewhere In Between
Available On i-Tunes
SoundTrack
2 Songs “All Said & Done” and “2B Loved.”
Upscale Magazine
Russell Taylor
Somewhere In
Between
On his debut album, Somewhere in Between,
Russell Taylor aims to satisfy listeners while
sharing intimate thoughts on love, relationships
and social responsibility. Charm your significant
other with a smooth dance during “2B Loved,”
or calm things down a little with the very
sensual “Braille.” Then you can switch moods
with the remarkable single “Can’t Cry,” which
touches on the social issues many people face
and encourages listeners to make a difference.
SG, April 2007
Save Our Soul
Fresh Pick
Russell Taylor,
Anything But In Between
onthe-verge.com
exclusive interview
russell taylor
NYC-based soul singer Russell Taylor takes some time out of his busy
schedule this summer to chat with OTV. With roots firmly planted in Philadelphia
and in D.C./Maryland, it is more than evident that Russell Taylor or “Rt” as he is
affectionately known, is a man with music and passion running through his veins.
It was a pleasure to finally get the opportunity to chat with with “Rt” to discuss
his debut album, his life, his inspirations, his pursuit of happiness and how he
finds balance between being the “business man” and the “creative man” in order
to keep up with his very demanding music career. So follow us as we take you
“Somewhere In Between” with Russell Taylor.
Tracy: Your “formal” debut album released in 2006 is entitled Somewhere In
Between. Tell us about it. How long did it take to record and did you produce
and write the songs?
Russell Taylor: Somewhere In Between was a true labor of love for me. It was a
way to prove to myself that I could do it without a major label. It took a bit under
2 years to record all together, with a lot of mental health breaks in between. I
produced some of the songs myself, but I also worked with two other producers:
Tim Kvasnosky and Needlz.
What has the response to the album been like?
So far the responses have been very strong. I am getting press and sales all over the
world, and that is a true blessing. Now, I just need to hit some of these retailers and
sing my butt off at these shows to move some units. It gives a whole new meaning
to “will work for food”.
Tell us what the title track means to you.
Russell Taylor: Somewhere In Between was written on a hot summer night full of
frustration. Tim Kvasnosky and I were sittinging in his home studio at the time
and he just started vibing on the Rhodes, and the song just poured of me. It was
a crossroad of frustration and disappointment for me, but once I listened to the
finished song, Whoa...it was raw, I had to have it on the record. It had to be the vibe
of the record...RAW and Exposed...
T. Freeman, read more of this interview at OnThe-Verge.Com
Russell Taylor’s music can be found comfortably nestled between the intense
and raucous pentameter we call Rock and soulful, 70’s inspired, Philadelphia grooves
reminiscent of McFadden and Whithead. As hard as it was for me to come up with this
definition for the man’s music, it was even harder to decipher the man himself. Upon
further review I found myself inspired at the way he has merged the chasms of his life
to not only become complete physically but spiritually. It is this zen-like composure
that I found most fascinating in his debut CD, Somewhere In Between.
Russell Taylor is one of the rare personages that will represent the same values in
and outside of the recording studio. He has carefully crafted a lifetime into his debut
CD; experiences that in totality, have etched out a not-so-ordinary musical journey
spanning Rock, Gospel, Soul, and R&B. Seamless in it’s construct you might not
realize that you have been taken to school, cleverly disguised in the form of 16 live
studio tracks.
To listen to his recordings is to be introduced to a world where one is no longer afraid
to step out on a limb, or quit a safe corporate career in search of a not-so-safe passion of the heart. After meeting Russell, any doubts I had in my own abilities were
immediately quelled and cultured into purposeful affirmations. Russell’s music has
that affect on you.
Not only did Russell pay close attention to the Blues inspired riffs that his grandfather
“Poppa Emmet” played for him as a child; Poppa would have been proud to learn that
Russell came to understand the history and theory within each love inspired note. It’s
this grasp of what is takes to create a soul inspired song, piece by piece, that makes
this CD lovelier every time I play it.
Are you ready for Russell Taylor? If you answered yes then you are more than a few
steps ahead of me because Somewhere In Between is anything but. This CD is a commitment to the height of the Philadelphia sound. If you listen closely you will hear
cues from The Stylistics, Billy Paul and Blue magic. This release is an unabashed
homage to Philadelphia’s rich past and a well constructed look into what’s to come.
Summer 2007
The Washington Post
On The Town
Somewhere In Between
AT THE START OF “Somewhere in Between,” philly-bred singer-songwriter Russell
Taylor sings the praises of his favorite soul men, unfurling an honor list that includes
Donny Hathaway, Luther Vandross, Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder. it doesn’t take
long for taylor to prove that he has talent to match his R&B tastes.
It’s clear earl on that Taylor, who had a hand in writing all the tunes here, has a knack
for composing love ballads that wouldn’t sound out of place on a vintage LP recorded
by Marvin Gaye or wonder. “2B Loved” and “Maybe I’ll Stay” are prime examples
of how easily he evokes old-school soul tranditons, and like Eric benet, talor wears
his influences lightl enough to invite flattering comparisions. his song aren’t always
inspired by purely romantic musings, as the blunt “Go Away” illustrates, but Taylor
never sounds more at home than when he casts himself as a neo-sould crooner pleading his case (“I Love U”) or tending to a broken heart (“For Tiny”). Review by Mike
Joyce, June 29, 2007
Catchagroove.Com (Uk)
Russell Taylor
Russell Taylor is the latest artist to emerge from the deep talent pool in Philly.
Taylor first gained recognition from recording some tracks on the Basement Boys
imprint. There was also a CD called “Soulstar Vol II” that is unavailable at this time.
Despite the limited material, Russell has generated quite a buzz with his live performances. His official debut “Somewhere in Between” is a soulful offering with
touch of folk for good measure. Throughout this disc, Russell displays exceptional
songwriting skills. Not to mention a voice that could draw comparisons to Rashaan
Patterson. That’s apparent right from the start with the title cut, “Somewhere in Between”, an acoustic track about wanting someone to love but playing it safe at the risk
of getting hurt. The tune “2B Loved” is a feel good up-tempo song about sharing your
love with that special lady who has entered you life. “How Deep” is a very intimate
song that will definitely stroke your heartstrings. A sixteen track disc that should’ve
been trimmed down to thirteen tracks as some songs feel like fillers. That said, this is
a very good album by Mr. Taylor that establishes him as an artist you need to pay to
attention to. Reviews, June 2007
HARLEM WORLD MAGAZINE No15
ROLLING OUT NEW YORK No37
April 12, 2007 Vol. 7
W
hen Russell Taylor strolls into the G.R. N’Namdi Gallery
with his guitarist, the well dressed attendants begin to
cluster around him in a ranging semi-circle that lines the
art adorned walls. Positioning himself in the center of the
gallery space, Russell calmly tells his audience that he is
waiting on his percussionist and begins to chat amiably with the well-heeled
crowd. In moments the percussionist appears and, seemingly without warning,
the room suddenly is full of sound. Full of this rich and warm sound. Full of
Russell’s voice. No further a due, no cues, just good music.
But this is what Russell Taylor does, he creates good music. From Europe to
his native Philadelphia, Russell has proven this to be true. Check Russell’s
debut album Somewhere In Between and you will understand that of which we
speak. Recently, Nat Creole sat down with the singer/songwriter in the Village
and talked about craft, courage and living in hyperbole.
Nat Creole: You often say that “that music chose you.” I hear this often but it is still a very
personal statement. When did you come to this realization and what does that mean to you?
Russell Taylor: Music is a hard life in the beginning. I went to college to prepare myself for life
and always have something to fall back on, coming from a Black professional family that is what
we do. So every time it got hard and I would see my friends buying their first house and getting
married I would feel a certain pressure and begin feeling that I was living this in-between life.
I had the education so whenever I was fed up with the poor and suffering part of establishing
yourself as an artist, I would go back to the education and work. But something would always
go wrong in that part of my life. I would go back to the corporate world thinking “Man, I just
got this 70 grand a year job” but something always went wrong. The money may have flowed
right but there was always some problem at the job. Something in my personal life was always
a distraction. My life wasn’t right.
Natcreole.Com
Russell Taylor
{ EXCLUSIVE INTRVIEW }
So I would break it back down to the bare minimum. After I bought all of the accessories and
hot stuff, I would always go back to the music to get right again. I’d been through that cycle
a million times- back and forth, back and forth- before I finally gave into it. I love music and
I love singing. I choose music, and I’m also an actor so I choose performing, and no matter
how far I try to get away from it I can’t because music has chosen me as well. It’s a symbiotic
relationship.
The song Braille has a guitar solo reminiscent of Ernie Isley (legendary Isley Brothers guitarist), and the guitar appears on the album in a couple of other instances as well. Is this an
instrument that you like to write for?
Yes I do. Guitar to me adds that folk flavor. Folk and Soul are two branches of the same tree in
terms of mood and feeling. The guitar to me is pure, the piano is the same way but the guitar
offers that folksy sound. My grandfather played the guitar, there is a song on my CD called “All
Said and Done,” that is a blues song and it is a tribute to my grandfather. I remember being a kid
and begging him to play another one. I listen to recordings of my grandfather and his brother
playing. They would make up things off the top. That was entertaining to them.
Some of your songs I like the most are the ones where you are freewheeling, ad libbing and, as
you say, “Making it up off the top.” Is this a skill that just comes natural to you?
The song “Braille” was an adlib. I figured out how I wanted to track the sound and I did a little
study on Marvin Gaye. How he made a lot of Hear My Dear off the top of his head and I wanted
to take a chance. That is a nightmare to some artists because we are always editing ourselves. So
I went to the lab and put the beats together then went into the booth and just rolled. It was all the
way through in one take and then we went back to work on some of the backgrounds to accent
different things. Improv, though the scariest thing, is the most beautiful thing and that is what
people seem to really like about my shows. At least that is the feedback that I get. If I’m having
a bad day, the improv will bring it out and people will be like “Damn, I get it.” Or if I’m having
a great day they”ll say, “Damn. I get it.” And that is what I enjoy.
I notice there is a romantic edge to your music that goes beyond relationships. Is this something that you’ve come to intellectually or from somewhere deeper?
I’ve always been a sensitive and emotional person and thankfully I had parents that were special
enough to notice that in me as a child. They developed and protected it and that made it a strong
point for me. They are also very spiritual and taught me how to know God in a spiritual way
more so than in a religious way. As an adult I am spiritual so in whatever I do I try to have some
connection to that source. That is how I manifest. I’ve been told that when I am performing my
strength is that people can relate to me. I’m available and that is because I am in touch with
this emotional and spiritual side of myself. You can get eaten up because of it, especially here
in New York, but that is where I shoot from. At the end of the day, though, I’m not always so
deep. I like to play and party and get drunk but expressing my spirituality is a big side of me.
NC, February 2007
Jazz-Not-Jazz.Com
Passedthecurve
Soulstar Vol. Ii
Neo-Soul Is Not Dead!
Russell Taylor
If you were an avid collector of house 12’ singles around 1999/2000 then there are chances that you have
the 12’ es Fool For Love, Last Dance and Holiday on Basement Boys Records. On these three records you can
hear a certain Russell who also co-wrote the tracks. This Russell is no other than Russell Taylor who has come
up with a strong and soulful full-length album called Soulstar Vol. II. Like most of his peers Russell cites the
usual suspects like Roberta Flack, Bobby Womack, Aretha Franklin, Lou Rawls, Ray Charels, Wes Montgomery
or Donny Hathaway as influences.
With many record labels hoping to cash in on the success of Neo Soul and taking up urban/R&B singers, many have
listed them as favorite artists. We’ve read this list of artists often enough in recent times, but - as you will soon notice from listening to Russell’s music - Russell is really an original artist deeply rooted in the soul music genre, he
simply lives this kind of music and besides, he has no big label pushing him. In fact, the copy I’ve got is a CD-R of
Soulstar Vol. II, unfortunately with no further information about composers, musicians involved, et cetera. I’m not
even sure if this album is actually available because Russell’s website doesn’t tell you where or how to purchase his
music yet. I hope he’ll change that soon because he has an impressive album to offer. Fans of Eric Benet, Maxwell, Frank McComb, and Rahsaan Patterson surely will love Russell’s music at once, there are some similarities,
but overall Russell has his own style and his singing is always heartfelt.
It’s really hard to pick a favorite with so many good tunes like Go Away, a soulful mid-tempo tune full of raw
energy. Or How Deep, a touching ballad done in great Stevie/ Donny style. Other highlights include the Southern
Soul influenced All Said, which evokes memories of old Al Greene songs or the catchy acoustic guitar ridden Kiss,
that could easily become a radio hit for Russell. The only thing that could maybe be improved would be a more
organic instrumentation on some songs with real musicians to give the songs a warmer and more livid feeling. For
example, All Said suffers a little from the use of a drum machine. Nevertheless, this is an overall awesome soul
album which makes Russell Taylor an artist to reckon with. JazzNotJazz, November 2005
Honeysoul.Com
Soulwatch
Russell Taylor
Remember this name - Russell Taylor. That’s the name of an up and coming soul star who is just waiting
to reserve his spot in your cd players and record collections, but he’s already making a place for himself on the
soul scene.
The Philadelphia native’s soulful sound was influenced by Donny Hathaway, Chaka Khan, Gamble & Huff, Stevie
Wonder, Bill Withers, and Al Greene. He’s already shared the stage with Mary J. Blige, Tweet, Lalah Hathaway
and he just rocked it at the Temple Bar in LA. Russell was featured on the Ministry of Sound collection with “Fool
for Love,” a top 10 single on the European charts. Currently he’s in the studio working and creating, as well as
writing for others. Look for his solo CD in 2006.
He’s got such a beautiful tone to his voice. It’s reminiscent of a combination of Eric Benet and Rahsaan Patterson
but he’s got his own unique sound and style. He’s just great. Visit his site to check out his music (Somewhere In
Between is currently my favorite). Good luck Russell, we’ve got our eye on you. Sweetened by Honey, October
2005
Souljoint.Com Russell Taylor
Philadelphia native who grew up Roman Catholic and would sing the hymns during mass with a bit of extra
hot sauce, Russell Taylor is standing on a great musical legacy that left him with no choice but to revere the
Philadelphia Soul classics. From Gamble and Huff to Stevie, songs of emotional love and social commentary
resonate throughout his upbringing and now his own musical imprint.
His influences came from legends like Roberta Flack, Bobby Womack, Aretha Franklin, and James Brown to
Michael Jackson, Tony Terry and Whitney Houston. He couldn’t listen to enough records, because he wanted to
soak it all in; he wanted to know what they sang about first hand, and how they sang it. It was not enough for him
to just fake it, and simply mimic it. He had to sing it as they did.
From every street corner and the windows of his neighborhood, it was beckoning of his youth. Yet Russell adapts
these sounds to his own unique and authentic style which creates a mood for music listeners, that is enriched with
deep vibrations from the center of his soul.
Russell was featured on a top 10 song released in Europe in early 2000 entitled “Fool for Love” on Ministry of
Sound, and “Last Dance” on Rise/ Virgin Records, produced by the Basement Boys. His introduction to the Eurochart left an insatiable thirst to produce music that maintains clear American Soul roots, but is grounded in the
desire to transcend continental barriers. Ultimately, the Philly crooner wants his iconic predecessors from the 70’s.
In the present we need those bridges that only soulful music makes possible.
Russell is a passionate artist who is fighting his way up and out. His debut album is scheduled to be released within
the next two months with promotional performances scheduled across the U.S. He recently opened for soul music
heavy-weight, Musiq SoulChild. Russell is one artist that urban music fans should keep their eyes open for and
radar up on; and that is a SoulJoint.com recommendation. Souljoint Staff, November 2005
Russell Taylor,
Occupying the same D.I.Y. below-the-radar space in adult contemporary R&B as acts like Eric Roberson, Marlon
Saunders, Abby Dobson, Donny, and Anthony David, Philly’s Russell Taylor has been pounding the pavements to
launch his latest release Somewhere in Between.
Sporting a baby hair ‘fro that recalls Maxwell circa 1997 and a clear, reedy tenor reminiscent of Rahsaan Patterson,
New York resident Taylor covers a lot of ground on his latest acoustic set - from the plaintive guitar folk of “Can’t
Cry” to the minimalist end-of-the-road soul of “Maybe I’ll Stay” to the furious Voices of East Harlem-esque
funk of “Can I Sing” and “Hey Yeah.” While the album could have been trimmed slightly, it’s highlighted by the
ready-for-quiet storm “2B Loved,” replete with shimmering, harmonically complex background vocals and a post
keys-solo modulation. No easy feat! PassedTheCurve, November 2006.
Soultracks.Com
Russell Taylor
Philadelphia native Russell Taylor grew up listening to that city’s soul music legends along with such other classic
soul artists as Stevie Wonder and Chaka Kahn. The talented singer/ songwriter first gathered an audience in
Europe in 2000 as featured vocalist on the songs “Fool For Love” and “Last Dance,” produced by the Basement
Boys. Taylor became a regular on the East Coast soul music circuit, playing smaller gigs as a headliner as well
as warming up established acts. He recorded a number of songs during the period 2003-2005, and issued limited
releases Soulstar and Soulstar II before issuing his formal debut album in 2006, Somewhere In Between.
On Somewhere In Between Taylor legitimately enters the ranks of the notable new members of the burgeoning
underground soul movement. His tenor voice falls somewhere in between Rahsaan Patterson and Javier, and he
shows a real penchant as a smooth balladeer on the title cut, “For Tiny” and the beautiful, sparsely arranged “How
Deep” (perhaps the disc’s highlight). He also picks it up effectively on the mid-tempo cuts “2B Loved” and “I
Love U.” Taylor shows his formidable ability as a songwriter on these numbers, producing solid adult soul tracks
that fit nicely alongside the music of such artists as Patterson or Kem. There is a saying that “less is sometimes
more,” and that applies to Somewhere, which has enough quality material to make a very good 10 or 11 song
disc, but which looses some of its power at sixteen songs, a few marginal tracks of which could have easily been
removed. But despite being a bit overstuffed, Somewhere In Between serves as both a solid introduction and
showcase for a talented young singer from whom we will undoubtedly be hearing more in years to come. CR,
November 2006.
Urban Network
Russell Taylor,
Somewhere In Between
Taylor is a New York Singer/ songwriter with passionate ties to the soul greats of the 70’s (Stevie, Donny, Marvin,
etc.), Yet with an ear for modern day sounds. Stressing live instrumentation of fat bass and drums, scratching
guitars, wrap-a-round keyboards and background vocals, he keeps things raw like open wounds. The song cycle
tells a story of solitude, love found, love explored, love lost and recovered; stronger, mo’ better for having taken
the journey. Along the way, Russell paints his canvas in strokes of electric funk, front porch blues, spaced out
sensuality and soaring pop (check the CD-closing “Fly” with its choice Teena Marie sample). His writing is naked
and real. And his voice morphs from gentle as a lamb (”Somewhere in Between,” “2B Loved,” and “How Deep”)
to ferocious as a lion (”Go Away” and “All Said & Done”). In short, this brotha’ is the real deal, having absorbed
his soul lessons well. A. Scott Galloway, November 2006
Arthausnyc.Com
CD Coming Soon!
Russell Taylor
From Philadelphia and nurtured in New York City, Russell Taylor is the new soul phenom to hit the music scene.
A product of a positive soul music environment, Russell is the brother with the honey dipped voice. Russell has a
versatility that is unmatched by many of his peers. Russell’s vocals are rich and so free that at times it seems as if
he is an instrument of the rarest quality. Like his peers, Rahsaan Patterson, Eric Robertson, Steve Wallace, Raheem
Devaughn, Russell Taylor creates his own niche of soul which at times is jazzy and at other times can be bluesy.
A gifted writer and truly talented singer, Russell has created a masterpiece of soul in which it is hard to pin point
a favorite track. This is an album like they used to make: just drop the needle and let it play. You will love every
track. This is a must-have for all serious soul music lovers. AyeJay, December 2005.
Bookings
Verizon Amphitheater
Charlotte, NC
Opening For Mary J. Blige & Tweet
Ram’s Head Live
Baltimore, MD
Opening for Isaac Hayes
Power 99 Fm
Philadelphia, PA
Live w/ Tiffany Bacon
SOB’S
New York, NY
Majic 95.9 FM
Baltimore, MD
Live w/ LOLO
Sonar Lounge
Baltimore, MD
Opening For Musiq Souldchild
The Supper Club
New York, NY
The Empire Room (Nascar)
Greensboro, NC
Bitter End
New York, NY
Club Dust
London, UK
Blues Alley
Washington, DC
AAHF (Main Stage)
Baltimore, MD
w/ Patti Labelle &
Anthony David
YUCCA
Miami, FL
Berts On Broadway
Detroit, MI
Maxwell’s
Oakland, CA
Club 347
Baltimore, MD
The Driskill Hotel
Austin, TX
SXSW ‘08 Headliner
91.9 WCLK Jazz/Soul
Atlanta, GA
w/ Jamal Ahmad
Jazz Cafe
London, UK
w/ Omar
Crash Mansion
New York, NY
The Blue Note
New York, NY
The sugar bar
New York, NY
Opus
Paris, FR
Club vinyl
Atlanta, GA
The Marketplace
London, UK
Mtv Bass
BBC 1xtra
R&R (Eclectic Ride)
New York, NY
The Temple Bar
Santa Monica, CA
Tempo
Charlotte, NC
Artscape Festival
Baltimore, MD
African American Heritage
Festival
Baltimore, MD
w/ Donnie & N’Dambi
ASCAP, Sidewalk Cafe
New York, NY
Advanced Songwriter’s Circle
Apache
Atlanta, GA
Sugarhill
Atlanta, GA
w/ India Arie, Eric Roberson & Anthony
David
B.B. Kings
New York, NY
Opening For Lalah Hathaway
Opia Live
New York, NY
Joe’s Pub
New York, NY
Jimmy’s Uptown
New York, NY
Baggott Inn
New York, NY
Posh
Washington, DC
The Birchmere
Alexandria, VA
Tangier
Los Angeles, CA
PLAN-B
Brixton, UK
PIGALLE
London, UK
Elbow Room
New York, NY
THE FILLMORE
Irving PLaza, NYC
w/ Rahsaan Patterson
Museum Of The African Diaspora
San Francisco, CA
The Creative Arts Festival
Dallas, TX
Buzz Bar
Detroit, MI
John Caleb Auditorium
Miami, FL
Lyric Opera House
Baltimore, MD
Opening For Tamia &
Mint Condition
Bohemian Caverns
Washington, DC
Friday’s at Sunset
Richmond, VA
w/ Jill Scot