Celebrations, Parties, Events

ESPRESSO JAZZ is live music for the celebrations, parties, and events of your life.

The smoky vocals and swinging guitar of Sandi Russell combine with the rhythmic pulse of bassist Barbara Hilton, to set the stage for this upbeat jazz combo. The music of Espresso Jazz is a rich blend of choice standards from the American Songbook.

A Western Massachusetts native, Sandi has performed in musical venues throughout New England. After stints with duo, trio and jazz quartet, Russell followed the music to Kansas City where she pursued a successful solo career. The City of Fountains had a lasting effect on Russell's musical style and became the keystone to her brand of “blusey jazz".

A graduate of the University of Massachusetts/Amherst, Sandi's background in music, psychology and recreation leadership serves her well as musician/entertainer. Russell calls the Northampton, MA area home.

Sandi Russell is the hip, soulful attitude of ESPRESSO JAZZ.

In 1993, Russell returned to New England and teamed with bassist, Barbara Hilton, for a jazz performance at First Night Cape Cod in Orleans, MA. Hilton's warm, deep double bass added the perfect rhythmic punch and the rich essence of ESPRESSO JAZZ began to perk.

Hilton holds a B.A. and Masters degree from the University of Massachusetts. She has an extensive background in special needs education utilizing music therapy in her work with autistic children from urban schools in Kansas City, Denver, and Southern California.

Barbara studied theatre arts at UCLA and was an active member of the clown alley, Colorado Clowns. Her comedic character "Boom Boom" is a cabaret favorite. Hilton resides in historic Deerfield, Massachusetts.

Espresso Jazz specializes in light jazz, blues, and swing music. They perform crowd pleasing American Songbook favorites. Espresso Jazz has a busy performance schedule of celebrations, parties and events. You will find them, in the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts and throughout New England "bringing jazz to people and people to jazz".

Enjoy the celebrations, parties and events of your life with ESPRESSO JAZZ !

Sandi Russell and Barbara Hilton completed their fourth independent release from Avocet Studios in the spring of 2003. The Blues Are Brewin' is a compilation of jazz, blues, and swing standards. The songs chosen for this CD were written during the '30s & '40s. Many of the tunes were rediscovered from the archives of Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday. On board for this " "Fat Tuesday" New Orleans style" recording, with Russell and Hilton are cornetist, Dave Pinardi and drummer, Richard Mayer.

"A tip of the hat goes to Sandi Russell for her superb vocals and intimate guitar playing throughout this album"

In 2001, ESPRESSO JAZZ poured out another steamy release with their third CD- Jazz 'N' Samba . This caffeinated mix of latin and jazz standards features Sandi Russell, Barbara Hilton, Kerry Blount, and drummer Tom Rinaldi. The addition of Rinaldi brought a new depth to the trio. Tom's swing and latin grooves propelled the combo to new heights.

ESPRESSO JAZZ 's millenium, 2000 offering entitled, I'm Just A Lucky So & So is a mellow blend of
standards featuring Russell, Hilton, and saxophonist Kerry Blount. The soulfulness
of Blount's sax and flute blend easily into the dark, rich, Espresso Jazz brew. Blount of Berklee College of Music in mid 70's Boston, recorded with Boston band Swallow. Kerry has recorded with Atlantic Records, Warner Brothers, and London Records.

"The participants are definitely on the same page, as they effortlessly weave their laid-back magic." Ken Irwin WMUA's Java Jazz

During the fall of 1999, ESPRESSO JAZZ recorded their debut album, All Of Me at Avocet Studios in Shelburne, MA. This live recording features Russell, Hilton, and the spirited clarinet of Bob Sparkman. A veteran New Yorker, Sparkman's credits include a stint at Eddie Condon's Jazz Club where he performed with Doc Cheatham, John Bunch, Billy Butterfield and a host of other legends.

"This is just the sort of eclectic chamber jazz that we desperately need." James Lincoln Collier, historian/author for Ken Burns' PBS series "JAZZ "

Annual Evening for HOW

A Benefit Dinner with Music for Helping Our Women

www.provincetown.com

Fine food and fine music are often hard to find in one place, but when they can be enjoyed together in one sitting, the oral and aural sensory gratification can combine to create a blissful synesthesia that reminds the tasting listener what life is all about.

There is one event every November that offers just this double pleasure, while also providing attendees with an opportunity to help people whose enjoyment of these gifts of life is made tenuous by life-threatening illness. Known as the Annual Evening for HOW, the event is a fundraiser for Helping Our Women, an organization that provides services to women suffering from chronic illnesses in the Outer Cape area.

The Annual Evening Benefit takes place at the Lobster Pot Restaurant – this year on November 17 – with a fine dining menu prepared by Chef Tim McNulty and musical entertainment provided by Espresso Jazz.

Chef McNulty, whose clam chowder has won numerous awards over the years, is sure to prepare a sumptuous spread for the evening, while Sandi Russell and Barbara Hilton, the vocalist and bassist that comprise Espresso Jazz, will titillate the ears as they play a selection of jazz and blues standards.

HOW was established in 1992 to serve women with cancer, but quickly expanded its service target to include all women suffering from a life-threatening or chronic illness. Since 1993, the organization has operated a resource and referral center, which guides women with illness to a variety of social services and benefit programs. HOW also provides many other services, including health education workshops, weekly support groups, financial assistance, transportation, and assistance with errands and housekeeping.

Tickets to the 4th Annual Evening for HOW were $150. To find out more about the event or how to buy tickets for the next event, call 508.487.4357. The Lobster Pot Restaurant is located at 321 Commercial Street.

Good Food, Good Music, Good Causes...

The Lobster Pot will host an evening to benefit Helping Our Women on November 18th. HOW, a resource center for women with chronic, life threatening, or disabling illness is a lynchpin in the non-profit nexus of the Outer Cape. Formed in 1992, HOW provides both a resource and referral center, as well as weekly support groups, financial assistance to low-income clients, advocacy, transportation services, and in-home assistance.

The 3rd Annual Evening benefit for HOW will be an exciting affair for both the palette and the ear. The Lobster Pot's Chef Tim McNulty will prepare a fine dining meal to reward HOW supporters. Espresso Jazz, a duo that plays jazz and blues, will in turn care for the aural realms, keeping the atmosphere swinging with upbeat standards. To reserve a spot, call 508.487.3622, ext. 101 or email ccs@coastalstudies.org.

Espresso Jazz is a duo at heart, featuring guitarist and vocalist Sandi Russell and bassist Barbara Hilton. Often the duo grows to a trio or a quartet featuring guests like clarinetist Bob Sparkman, saxophonist/flutist Kerry Blount and drummer Tom Rinaldi. Espresso Jazz has released four CDs, including 1999´s All of Me , which is a mix of jazz, blues and swing.

Over the past year Espresso Jazz has had a sometimes weekly, sometimes monthly residency at Chandler´s Wine Cellar Lounge in South Deerfield as well as a monthly cabaret show at the Charlemont Inn. After a bit of R & R in the new year, Espresso Jazz will be back at it, performing, and if the whispers are true, recording their long-awaited new album.

To celebrate their time spent playing at the most romantic spot in the Valley (I hear Chandler´s induces smooching), Espresso Jazz is performing a Perkin´ New Year´s show at the Wine Cellar Lounge, sure to be filled with caffeinated crooning and canoodling. And not to worry: if you´ve already got plans to ring in the New Year, you can catch these hopped-up musicians when they trade coffee for wine and perform Wine, Women and Song at a Chandler´s wine dinner on January 7 at 6 p.m.

Talent Percolates Through Espresso Jazz
by Virginia Ray
The Recorder Greenfield, MA
November 22, 2001
Photos by Peter MacDonald

Most Monday nights you can find Sandi Russell and Barbara Hilton percolating a rich brew at Chandler’s Tavern in South Deerfield. But don’t look for them in the kitchen. These two do their cooking on stage as Espresso Jazz, where Russell’s smoky vocals and swinging guitar and Hilton’s deep pulsating double bass bring " jazz to the people and people to jazz " with their popular " Wine, Women, & Song " series of jazz standards from the '30’s & '40’s. Read more