Nick Russo - An interview with the New York area multi-instrumentalist and leader of Banjo Nickaru & Western Scooches. "Our goal is to play music, have fun and impact our audiences with joy!"

Nick Russo

Nick Russo is a New York City based multi-instrumentalist who leads a very talent group of musicians called "Banjo Nickaru & Western Scooches." Originally starting out on drums and guitar in his early years, Nick took up the banjo in his 20's, when a professional opportunity arose. Although Nick is very accomplished in the Americana and jazz genres, his influences come from a variety of areas such as rock and roll, pop, hip hop, world music and more.  Nick has even published two songbooks on Metallica. Throughout his career, Nick has performed with music legends such as: Jimmy McGriff, Terry Waldo, Teddy Charles, Sir Paul McCartney and many more. Nick describes how Nickaru and the Western Scooches approach their diverse music repertoire. "Variety and history of classic American music comes out naturally and organically." Banjo Nickaru & Western Scooches have just released a new album titled "Get Us Out Of Fearland," and will be embarking on an extensive tour of the southeast this summer with Blue Yonder. An appearance at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival is on the books and a steady flow of New York City area shows are scheduled as well. I recently corresponded with Nick about his career and current projects.

 

R.V.B. - Congratulations on your career in music and the success of your band Banjo Nickaru & Western Scooches. What brought you into the wonderful world of music? Was there an influence or event that got you to take up stringed instruments?

 

The Richard Russo family

N.R. - Thank you. Much appreciated. My father, Richard Russo, bassist/guitarist/vocalist/founder of the 1960s band, The Scarecrow was a big influence on my early childhood. On Columbia and Date records, The Scarecrow wore face make up a decade before Kiss and toured as the opening band for Sly & The Family Stone. Plus, my dad got to play with Chuck Berry and knew Jimi Hendrix. My dad was always playing recordings and introducing me to guitarists such as Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Winter, Carlos Santana, Jimmy Reed, John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters and Elmore James. Both my grandfather (also Nick Russo) played trombone, guitar and mandolin and my Uncle MIke (my dad’s brother), guitarist and songwriter, also had a great impact on me learning stringed instruments. My mom sang around the house and we had family jam sessions with my Aunt Laura, Uncle Mike, Uncle Johnny, Uncle Walter and Uncle Tom who all sang and played music. 

 

R.V.B. -  What came first... the banjo or the guitar?

 

N.R. - Actually drums! Drums and percussion were my first instruments, starting around age 5 or 6. I played percussion all through grade school and high school. I started guitar at 7 years old and later played one summer in a school jazz ensemble. Not until my late 20s, I tried to learn tenor banjo on the fly when auditioning for a band to play in Japan for a month. We got the gig but I still couldn’t figure out the tenor banjo until I got called to play with Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks. Playing in Vince’s band and studying Indian music with Pandit Samir Chatterjee really helped shape my tenor banjo playing. I didn’t pick up the 5 string until Betina & I wrote a song “I’m Gettin’ Married” and had to shed bluegrass style banjo for our wedding, which was released on our first album, Very Next Thing. The only thing I was nervous about getting married was playing bluegrass banjo at our ceremony!

 

Nick Russo and Betina Hershey

R.V.B. - How did your career wind up moving to Americana music and jazz and not rock and roll or pop?

 

N.R. - Actually, I’ve always been curious, interested and played many different genres of music, including rock and roll and pop music. I hear connections to all music. As full-time professional musician, I’m blessed to get called for an eclectic mix of genres, including hip-hop, rap, R & B, pop music, rock, Brazilian and World Music.
I have played pop music with actress, Antonique Smith and actor Rob Morrow, I am the author of two Metallica Books and recently was called by Jon Bellion’s manager to possibly be Jon’s guitarist and music director. 

 

R.V.B. - Did you network yourself as a solo artist at first before the bands formation? What were some of your earlier highlights of your career?

 

N.R. - I’ve always lead my own jazz trio and have been a sideman with many other groups. Although I’ve played many solo guitar gigs, I’ve always enjoyed playing with other people. Recently, I have been practicing guitar and banjo along with my acoustic stomp box and low boy so who knows, perhaps I’ll record soon as a one man band! As you know, low boy is a predecessor to the hi hat. I use a modern low boy by LP and a Meinl BassBox. I’m now looking into getting Farmer foot drums!

 

My earlier highlights were playing with the greats Jimmy McGriff, Sonny Dallas (bassist with Lennie Tristano), Teddy Charles (composer/vibraphonist with Miles Davis/Charles Mingus), Jim Notel (violinist with Jazz Passenger), with Miles Griffith’s New Ting and in David Pleasant’s band.

Jimmy McGriff

I learned so much on those tours, records and gigs not only about music, there were many life lessons, especially how to be kind to others and focus at a very high level! Jimmy McGriff was always so warm and kind and all of them kept such high standards in terms of digging deep into the music. It’s always an honor and a blessing to play with a jazz legend. I’m also proud of my group, Nick Russo+11 and my first jazz album, Ro which features all of my original compositions and was reviewed in Downbeat, All About Jazz, Hot House, Jazz Times and many other publications and radio stations, both nationally and worldwide. Ro features Mark Turner, Pandit Samir Chatterjee, Ari Hoenig, Art Hirahara, Miles Griffith, David Pleasant, Willard Dyson, Greg Glassman and other great NYC musicians. 

 

R.V.B. - There's an impressive list of performers/artists that you have played with. How did the Sir Paul McCartney performance happen?

 

N.R. - I was a on a jazz gig led by cornetist/vocalist, Michael Arenella at Gwyneth Paltrow’s home in Long Island when she was still married to Chris Martin (from Coldplay). Many celebrities were there, including Sarah Jessica Parker, Stella McCartney and Sir Paul McCartney himself! I Noticed Paul was singing along to all the 1920s jazz and old standards we were playing. During a band break, the organizer asked Michael for continuous music. I offered to play solo guitar while the other musicians had a rest. While playing Jobim’s So Danco Samba, Paul McCartney walked over to me and we started chatting! We talked about life, kids and then he started jamming with me on a toy kazoo! Gwyneth’s camera crew surrounded us and filmed us playing two songs together, including a blues. Paul sounded great and had such a wonderful vibe! You can see footage of me playing at Gwyneth’s home on her YouTube video: A Garden Party but the video of Paul and I playing has not been released. (not yet!).

Nick in upper right photo

 

After Paul & finished playing together, I played a solo guitar version of the Beatles song, Something and Paul gave me a thumbs up of approval. After the party, Chris Martin came up to me and sarcastically said “You have a lot of ….. (nerve)..... playing a George Harrison tune for Paul McCartney!” Although he was half joking around, I felt really bad! Not until weeks later when I relayed the story to my childhood friend, Charlie Koci did I feel relieved. Charlie comforted me with the fact that Paul plays Something as a tribute to George at each of her concerts on ukulele!

 

R.V.B. - Tell me about your work with the great ragtime pianist Terry Waldo?

 

Nick and Terry Waldo at the Rum House

N.R. - I learn so much playing in Terry Waldo’s band on a weekly basis (years at The Rum House, now every Monday at Black Door and often on Sundays at Fat Cat) and recently recording several sessions for his upcoming album! The unique experience of playing these Scott Joplin, Jelly Roll Morton, King Oliver, Louis Armstrong and other early jazz music in a small group format with Terry lends itself to wonderful improvisation, organic improvised dialog between instrumentalists and both on the fly arrangements and preserving the original arrangement on these tunes. Terry is very open minded, giving his side musicians a lot of freedom, thus opening up the music and being very “in the moment.” Terry and I know each other’s playing so well that our “listening and reaction decisions” seem effortless and very musical! I feel very blessed to play with Professor Waldo one of the only living pianists who studied with piano master, Eubie Blake! Terry also wrote the book This Is Ragtime!

 

R.V.N. - Where did you meet Betina Hershey and how did the musical relationship evolve?

 

N.r. - Betina and I met on the street in Astoria, Queens one day passing each other by! As I walked past, our eyes caught, she smiled but I kept on walking! Moments later I decided to turn around and approach her, introduce myself. She actually recognized my name from the jam sessions I used to lead at both Cleopatra’s Needle and former NYC jazz clubs: Kavehaz and The C-Note.

We exchanged contact info, e-mailed her and made plans to take a walk and have a jam session outdoors on my stoop! I still remember she walked over wearing her guitar (with no case) and strawberries!

Soon we were jamming together, dating and eventually we started hiring each other for our own gigs. At the time she was the dance professor at Wagner College and hired me to play guitar for her student’s show.  

I was hiring Betina on my jazz gigs when I needed a vocalist. Years later, after we were married I got a call to play The Strawberry Festival in Brooklyn and I formed a country, western swing band with some of the top NYC western swing cats; Betina on lead vocals and guitar. I wonder if those strawberries on our first date were a sign! Ha ha. On the fly I thought of the name, Banjo Nickaru & Western Scooches from my grandfather calling my cousins and I “Scooches” as kids. Nickaru was a Russian nickname, coined from a former girlfriend, Elina from Belarus. At the time, I was so deep into 5 string banjo and wanted to play 5 string as much as possible although now I play so many different instruments in our band!

 

R.V.B. - What is the goal of your adjustable ensemble (The Scooches)? Is variety and history of classic American music a big part?

 

N.R. - Our goal is to play music, have fun and impact our audiences with joy! Variety and history of classic American music comes out naturally and organically. Variety of Scooches also occurs similar to many other bands due to logistics and budget of the gig. Since Betina and I sound full as a duo with me doubling on fretted strings instruments, harmonium and pedal drums and Betina on voice and guitar, we continue to playing play duo concerts and radio shows. We do have a future goal of recording a duo album!

 

However, I really enjoy the rhythmic interplay and improvisation playing trio with one of our drummers! When logistics, budget and the universe allow us to include our drummer plus a 4th Scooch, then our Banjo Nickaru & Scooches Quartet has its own sound and power! 

 

Classic American music is is in its truest sense is a melting pot of different music, including the influence of African American musics, Gullah-Geechee, Native American, European and other American cultures. Since I’ve always been a true student of music, the true history of classic American music, global folk and world music will always inspire me and us as a band! Including all cultures, all races, all people and musics resonant with me with a special place in my heart. I hope to continue to spread the idea of inclusiveness, one love, hence one music!

 

R.V.B. - How did you come up with the name of your current album "Get Us Out of Fearland?"

 

N.R. - Originally I entitled the album Which Country? Inspired by our fiddle player, Kenny Kosek’s joke. One time when I informed Kenny that our attire for a gig was “country,” Kenny asked “Which Country?” That cracked me up! Because of all the world music instruments and influences on the album, I thought it was the perfect album title! 

 

However, with the current political situation and Betina’s social conscience compositions Get Us Out of Fearland, Needed Now and Dandelion, Betina and I decided that Get Us Out of Fearland as both the album title and title track made more sense. I love this album title and I think it’s perfect for the music! However, I still would like to use Which Country? For a future album title!

 

R.V.B. - What's coming up this year? Do you have any residencies or tours in the works?

 

N.R. - Yes, we are excited about performing again at Falcon Ridge Folk Festival plus our joint tour this August with Blue Yonder! This July we will perform in Saratoga while my father in law performs with The New York City Ballet at SPAC. Last year, I was honored to play banjo with the NYC Ballet musicians at Caffe Lena. 

 

I keep very busy as a sideman with so many different bands but I hope to find a NYC weekly residency for Banjo Nickaru & Western Scooches. Some of our semi regular NYC venues include Rockwood Music Hall, Pete’s Candy Store, Jalopy Theatre and Jalopy Tavern. Sunday April 28th I’ll lead our sister band, Hot Jazz Jumpers at Queens Botanical Fest playing the music of the 1920s/30s, music of New Orleans and R & B! More info: https://queensbotanical.org/arborfest/

 

Here is our Banjo Nickaru & Western Scooches Get Us Out Of Fearland trailer: 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8p_xKP_fDY

 

Current Tour Dates: 

7/14- 7/20 Saratoga, NY @ TBA

8/2-8/3 Hillsdale, NY @ Falcon Ridge Folk Fest

8/16 – Thomas, WV The Purple Fiddle 

8/17 – Marlinton, WV Pocahontas County Opera House 

8/23 - Charleston, WV @ Live On The Levee (Hot Jazz Jumpers)

8/25 – Asheville, NC @ Isis Music Hall

8/27 – Asheville, NC @ Swing Asheville Dance** (Hot Jazz Jumpers)

8/29 – Statesville, NC @ WAME Radio (4-5pm)

8/29 - Mount Airy, NC @ Earle Theater

8/31 – Chattanooga, TN @ Charles & Myrtle’s Coffeehouse

Interview conducted by Robert von Bernewitz

This interview may not be reproduced in any part or form without permission from this site.

For more information on Nick Russo visit this site nickrusso.org

For more information on this site contact Robvonb247(at)gmail(dot)com