J.L. Russell, Pianist/singer

• J.L. Russell - Piano, vocals

(Please be sure and check out video of my "jazz" and "rock/pop" shows in my Gigmasters Press Kit!) Based in Chicago and Wisconsin, JL has performed at Blu Lounge Milwaukee, The Wyndham Hotel (house pianist), The Grand Ballroom at the Pfister Hotel, The Crowne Plaza (house pianist), The Wyndham Hotel (house pianist), Piano Blu, The Marcus Center for the Arts, Hotel Metro, The Mason Street Grille, Heaven City Restaurant, Pieces of Eight Restaurant (house pianist), and as house pianist at Coast Restaurant at O'Donnell Park. More recently, JL has expanded into Chicago and upstate Illinois, playing a cocktail party in Lincoln Park for one of Chicago's largest trademark law firms, a fundraiser in Arlington Heights, and he's been the New Year's Eve entertainer for the last two years at one of Chicago's finest eateries, in Streeterville.

Let JL provide the soundtrack for your event, from wedding love songs to high energy dance tunes for corporate events/parties, piano bars, birthdays, restaurants, etc. Elegant Jazz from Frank Sinatra, Cole Porter, Nat King Cole, uptempo Rock/Pop by Elton John, Billy Joel, Jimmy Buffet, Journey, Soul/Motown by Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Jackie Wilson - J.L.'s got you covered!

• ROCK/POP/JAZZ/MOTOWN/ETC.
• Don't Stop Believin' - Journey
• Jack and Diane - John Mellencamp
• Only The Good Die Young - Billy Joel
• New York State of Mind - Billy Joel
• My Life - Billy Joel
• Movin' Out - Billy Joel
• Let's Stay Together - Al Green
• Summer of '69 - Bryan Adams
• Jessie’s Girl - Rick Springfield
• Jailhouse Rock - Elvis Presley
• Shout - Jackie Wilson
• Cherry Bomb - John Mellencamp
• Hurts So Good - John Mellencamp
• Get Down Tonite - KC & The Sunshine Band
• That's The Way I Like It - KC & The Sunshine Band
• Red, Red, Wine - UB40
• Baby I Love Your Way - Big Mountain
• Brandy - Looking Glass
• Winelite - Grover Washington, Jr.
• All Blues - Miles Davis
• Sway - Dean Martin
• Fly Me To The Moon - Frank Sinatra
• Don't Know Why - Norah Jones
• On Green Dolphin Street - Ella Fitzgerald
• You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To - Cole Porter
• Unforgettable - Nat "King" Cole
• L-O-V-E - Nat "King" Cole
• Killer Joe - Quincy Jones
• The Way You Look Tonite - Tony Bennett
• It Had To Be You - Harry Connick, Jr.
• Better Than Anything - Al Jarreau
• Footprints - Wayne Shorter
• Route 66 - Bobby Troup
• Goin' to Kansas City
• The Thrill is Gone - B.B. King
• Drift Away - Dobie Gray
• I Feel Good - James Brown
• Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye
• What's Goin' On - Marvin Gaye
• Mercy, Mercy, Me - Marvin Gaye
• Love & Happiness - Al Green
• You Can Leave Your Hat On - Joe Cocker
• Feelin' Alright - Joe Cocker
• Walking in Memphis - Marc Cohn
• Your Song - Elton John
• Bennie & The Jets - Elton John
• What I Like About You - The Romantics
• I Wish - Stevie Wonder
• Superstition - Stevie Wonder
• Can't Get Enough of Your Love - Barry White
• Dock of The Bay - Otis Redding
• What I Say - Ray Charles
• Georgia - Ray Charles
• You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling - The Righteous Brothers
• Brickhouse - The Commodores
• Easy - The Commodores
• Build Me Up Buttercup - The Four Tops
• Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison
• Friends In Low Places - Garth Brooks
• Ring of Fire - Johnny Cash
• My Girl - The Temptations
• Miss You - The Rolling Stones
• September - Earth, Wind, & Fire
• Ladies Nite - Kool & The Gang
• You Are - Lionel Ritchie
• All Nite Long - Lionel Ritchie
• Stitched Up - John Mayer
• Waiting On The World To Change - John Mayer
• (Your Body is a) Wonderland - John Mayer
• Sara Smile - Hall & Oates
• Long Train Runnin' - The Doobie Brothers
• Change The World - Eric Clapton
• Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown - Jim Croce
• I'll Be Around - The Spinners
• Margaritaville - Jimmy Buffet

Anniversaries, Awards Nights, Banquets, Bar Mitzvahs, Bat Mitzvahs, Birthday Parties, Casinos, Celebrations, Christmas Parties, Clubs, Cocktail Parties, Community Events, Conventions, Corporate Functions, Country Clubs, Dinner Dances, Events, Festivals, Fund Raisers, Grand Openings, Hotels, New Year's Eve Parties, Private Parties, Restaurants, Reunions, Studio Session, Weddings, Wedding Ceremonies, Wedding Cocktail Hours, Wedding Receptions...and more.

• J.L.Russell, was a total hit at our party, people have asked how I found him and still mention the party and how much he made it one of my BEST ever..(and I have a lot of parties!) He catered to the crowd and their requests, which made it extra special for many. The process, and setup was one of the smoothest and most organized I have encountered. HIGHLY RECOMMEND! -- Julie K, Arlington Heights, IL, 12/4/2010
• Aside from being a great musician, JL Russell was extremely personable and accommodating to everyone. He was a fabulous addition to our party! We all thoroughly enjoyed his presence and would definitely consider him again for a party. He's a "keeper!" BOBBIE MENDELSOHN FOX POINT, WI -- Bobbie M, Fox Point, WI, 1/22/2011
• JL was great! He was a hit with all of our guests. Very professional and catered to all of our song requests. He also brought a Sax player which was great as well, they made a great duo. We will be sure to hire him again for future events. -- Esther M, Chicago, IL, 12/31/2010
• we probably should have discussed before he started playing just what we were looking for, since JL can play in many different styles, and he is quite accomplished. My wife and I are both musicians and have rather definite tastes. But he arrived a bit late after getting confused about the address, and I was already busy with guests. JL played more in a pure jazz idiom than playing songs that were recognizable and singable. Still, I fault myself for not going over the song list with him when he arrived. -- Brett A, Chicago, IL, 3/24/2012
• We had J.L. come up to do music for our wedding ceremony. Unfortunately, not all of his equipment was working properly with the electrical system of the venue. In spite of these difficulties, he was very professional and tried to get back up recorded music working. He was able to get his piano working and played both pieces that we requested beautifully, along with pre and post ceremony music. Because of the technical difficulties, J.L. offered to deduct from the final balance, a very professional move. -- Kevin C, Germantown, WI, 5/19/2012

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