Aztec Jazz

The new Aztec Jazz may be the most wonderful to date. Tom Russell has never been afraid to try something new and different, but he really outdoes himself on this album, a live 2012 performance with guitarist Thad Beckman and the 31-member Norwegian Wind Ensemble. What to call the result, which incorporates elements of jazz, folk, Tex-Mex and classical music? Who knows? Who cares?
As Russell writes, “The results were beyond our dreams. Sometimes it sounded like Western movie music and sometimes it called up Miles Davis’s Sketches of Spain. [The Wind Ensemble] played behind us without overpowering the songs, and I think my singing is far better than my vocals on the original tracks.” Perhaps so—though his always-emotive vocals on the originals were pretty damn powerful.
At any rate, the Ensemble’s trumpets, oboes, saxes, French horns, trombones and percussion—inventively arranged by Swedish composer Mats Halling—put a new slant on this classic American roots music.
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As for the 11-track program, all written by Russell, it makes a strong case for him as one of the great songwriters of our time. He covers a lot of turf, but always sticks to subjects that relate to his personal experience and passions. Highlights include “Finding You,” a poignant love song; “Goodnight Juarez,” about the poverty in that city; and “East of Woodstock, West of Vietnam,” about spending the late 60s in Africa.

Then there’s the apparently autobiographical “Criminology,” in which he sings, “You may think I’m just a folk singer, no, I’m a master in the art of criminology”—which may sound nonsensical until you check Wikipedia and learn that, sure enough, Russell has a master’s in the subject from the University of California at Santa Barbara. The guy is full of surprises, musical and otherwise.
Somebody should nominate Aztec Jazz for a 2013 Grammy. And it should win. But first the nominator will have to figure out what category it belongs in.
Blue Brahma

Blue Brahma
12x12

Bird #4

Bird #4
12x9

 
Bird #3

Bird #3
12x9

Austin Couple

Austin Couple
24x18

 
Blodsport

Blodsport
20x30

Circus Donkey

Circus Donkey
18x24

 
Blue War Horse

Blue War Horse
18x24

Last Fairground Pony

Last Fairground Pony
18x24

 
Old Coyote

Old Coyote
18x24

Wife of Old Crow

Wife of Old Crow
18x24

 
Unknown Lakota

Unknown Lakota
18x24

Chief Old Crow

Chief Old Crow
18x24

 
Stewball

Stewball
20x20

Round Midnite

Round Midnite
36x48

 
Jicarilla Cowboy

Jicarilla Cowboy
12x15

The Carter Family # 2

The Carter Family # 2
16x20

 
Blue Burger with Shakes

Blue Burger with Shakes
24x18

Requiem For A Heavyweight

Requiem For A Heavyweight
16x20

 
Carter Family Print

Carter Family Print
13x17

Custer`s Last Stand - Detail #1

Custer`s Last Stand - Detail #1
36x48

 
Mesabi

Mesabi
36x36

Kachina #2

Kachina #2
18x24

 
Mesabi #2

Mesabi #2
18x24

Turtle Shaman

Turtle Shaman
18x24

 
Kachina #1

Kachina #1
18x24

Ragtime Evolution

Ragtime Evolution
36x48

 
Molly and Ten Brooks

Molly and Ten Brooks
36x36

Spotted Horse

Spotted Horse
36x48

 
Desert Sunrise with Chickens

Desert Sunrise with Chickens
48x60

Red Horses

Red Horses
25x36

 
Big Heart

Big Heart
18x24

Love Sick Indian

Love Sick Indian
18x24

 
Plenty Coup

Plenty Coup
18x24

Guadalupe # 3

Guadalupe # 3
36x48

 
Navajo Walks the Talk

Navajo Walks the Talk
24x30

Chief Joseph Print

Chief Joseph Print
17x13

 
Navajo Bronc Rider

Navajo Bronc Rider
24x30

Criminology

Criminology
36x36

 
American Horse

American Horse
36x48

Red Elephant #2

Red Elephant #2
36x36

 
Blue Red Agave

Blue Red Agave
36x48

All The Tired Horses

All The Tired Horses
36x36

 
Upsidedown Cowboys Poster

Upsidedown Cowboys Poster
33.25 x 23.5

Picasso's Goat

Picasso's Goat
24 x 30

 
To purchase, please contact tomrusselloffice@gmail.com!