Bio

RUSS LOSSING

Master of Musical Innovation and Improvisation

In the heart of New York City's vibrant jazz scene, Russ Lossing stands as a towering figure of creative brilliance—a pianist, composer, and improviser whose singular artistic voice has captivated audiences across the globe for over three decades. With an extraordinary catalog of over 400 original compositions and a discography spanning 26 albums as leader plus features on more than 60 collaborative recordings, Lossing has established himself as one of the most prolific and innovative forces in contemporary jazz and improvised music.

A Legacy Forged at Jazz's Holy Grail

Lossing's artistic journey reached legendary heights through his 12-year collaboration with the iconic drummer Paul Motian, becoming an integral member of the Paul Motian Quintet. This partnership brought him to the hallowed stage of New York's Village Vanguard for week-long residencies, cementing his place among jazz's elite performers and earning him recognition for his distinctive musical language and phraseology.

A Global Musical Odyssey

From the smoky clubs of Manhattan to the grand concert halls of Europe, Lossing has commanded stages at the world's most prestigious venues and festivals. His performances have electrified audiences at legendary spots including The Village Vanguard, Blue Note NYC, Jazz Standard, Birdland, and Town Hall, while his international presence has graced renowned European venues like Vienna's Porgy and Bess, Amsterdam's BimHuis, Zurich's Moods, and Paris's Sunside & Duc de Lombards and Radio France.

His festival appearances read like a who's who of global jazz celebrations: London Jazz Festival, Vienna Jazz Festival, Harlem Jazz Festival, Switzerland's Cully Jazz Festival, France's Jazzdor in Strasbourg, Toronto Jazz Festival, and Italy's Venice Jazz Festival—each performance showcasing his remarkable ability to connect with diverse audiences through his revolutionary musical approach.

A Discography of Distinction

Lossing's recording career spans multiple prestigious labels, demonstrating both artistic versatility and unwavering quality. His five releases on Switzerland's avant-garde HatHut Records and four albums on NYC's Sunnyside Records represent just the tip of his creative iceberg, with additional releases on Cleanfeed, Fresh Sound, Double Time, Steeplechase, SONGS and OmniTone labels. His entrepreneurial spirit shines through Aqua Piazza Records, his own label featuring six distinctive albums that showcase his uncompromising artistic vision.

A Collaborator's Dream

The roster of world-class musicians who have sought out Lossing's unique talents reads like a jazz hall of fame. His collaborations span generations and styles, from legendary figures like John Abercrombie and Dave Liebman to contemporary innovators including Tim Berne, Tyshawn Sorey, Ralph Alessi, Tony Malaby, and Ellery Eskelin. Whether working with master bassists like Mark Helias, Michael Formanek, and Drew Gress, or dynamic drummers such as Billy Hart, Tom Rainey, and Nasheet Waits, Lossing brings his distinctive voice to every musical conversation.

The Continuing Revolution

After more than 35 years of pushing musical boundaries, Russ Lossing remains at the forefront of jazz innovation. His work continues to inspire fellow musicians and challenge audiences, proving that true artistry knows no limits. Each performance, each composition, each recording adds another chapter to a remarkable story of creative fearlessness and musical mastery that defines what it means to be a true artist in the modern jazz landscape.

In a world where musical trends come and go, Russ Lossing stands as a beacon of authentic expression—a master craftsman whose dedication to his art has created a body of work that will inspire musicians and music lovers for generations to come.

Musicians performed with

(partial list)

Paul Motian, Billy Hart, Mark Helias, Eric McPherson,Masa Kamaguchi, Billy Mintz, Samuel Blaser, Michael Formanek, Loren Stillman, Gerry Hemingway, Michael Moore, Tom Rainey, Cameron Brown, Mark Dresser, Ralph Alessi, Tony Malaby, Ellery Eskelin, Dave Liebman, John Abercrombie, Michael Sarin, Herb Robertson, Mat Maneri, Kirk Knuffke, Rudy Royston, Kermit Driscoll, Chris Lightcap, Nasheet Waits, Thomas Morgan, Drew Gress, Gerald Cleaver, Billy Drewes, John Hebert, Gary Thomas. Marty Erlich, Michael Adkins, Oscar Noriega, Sean Conly, Jeff Williams, Dave Phillips,, Ray Anderson, Satoshi Takeishi, Ben Monder, John O'Gallagher, Rich Perry, Tim Berne, Johannes Weidenmuller, Michael Bates, Andy Manndorff, Jay Anderson, Michael Attias, Bobby Previte, Jamey Haddad, Shane Endsley, Francios Moutin, Adam Kolker, Randy Peterson, Peter Herbert, Tyshawn Sorey, Trevor Dunn, Andrew Rathbun, Ed Schuller, George Schuller, Tony Moreno, Wolfgang Pushnig, Rudresh Mahanthappa , Dan Weiss, Scott Colley, Marc Mommas, Ben Street, Mike Clark, Dave Binney, Dave Ballou, Jeff Davis, Chris Speed, Mark Feldman, Russ Johnson, Matt Pavolka, Jason Rigby, Kenny Wollesen, Bob Moses, Jerome Harris, Brad Shepik, ,Ralph Alessi, Kyoko Kitamura, Kendra Shank, Louie Belogenis, Eivind Opsvik,Dayeon Seok, Wallace Roney, Oliver Lake, Gordon Grdina, Caroline Davis, Deric Dickens, Lena Bloch, Adam Lane, Johnathon Goldberger, Lim Yang, Bob Moses

Russ Lossing, b.1960, Columbus, Ohio, USA

Musical Timeline general overview

1965 - started classical piano lessons

1970 - began composing and improvising

1973 - began jazz piano and theory lessons

1978 - 1982 - toured 48 weeks per year/6 nights per week

1982-1986- earned Bachelor of Music in classical piano performance from Ohio State University

1986-1987 - earned Master of Music in Jazz Studies from Manhattan School of Music

1987- present - NYC jazz scene/touring Europe, U.S. and Canada