The ensemble will feature music it has performed over the past year during its monthly residency as well as four new pieces written specifically for Russ to perform with the band.

Featuring:

Bryan Kennard, flutes
Howie Smith, alto saxophone
Chris Coles, tenor saxophone
Brad Wagner, bari saxophone
Garrett Folger, trumpet
Jason Smith, trombone
Dan Bruce, guitar
Joe Leaman, piano
Aidan Plank, bass
Anthony Taddeo, drums
Russ Johnson, guest trumpet

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Trumpeter Russ Johnson is a recent Midwest transplant after spending 23 years as an important member of New York City’s jazz community. He has released 10 recordings as a leader or co-leader and performed on more than 120 recordings as a sideman. Russ has worked alongside many of the legendary figures in jazz including Lee Konitz, Steve Swallow, Bill Frisell, and Joe Lovano. In addition, he has recorded and/or performed with a long list of the most prominent musicians currently on the international jazz scene, including Myra Melford, Ken Vandermark, and Tony Malaby. Russ has performed in more than 45 countries across the globe. His groups have recently performed at the Chicago, Winter Jazz Fest (NYC) Hyde Park, (Chicago) and Bergamo, (Italy) jazz festivals. He was also recognized as a “Rising Star” in the 2018 Down Beat Critics Poll.

Russ’ recent recordings, Meeting Point (Relay Recordings) and Still Out To Lunch! (Enja Records) received 4 1/2 & 4 stars respectively from Down Beat Magazine and appeared on many “Best Recordings of 2014/5” lists including Down Beat, the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Reader, NYC Jazz Record and Magnet magazine. Russ’ most recent recording, “Reveal” was released in August of 2023 on the Calligram Records Label.

Russ has also performed extensively as a contemporary classical trumpeter. Performances include: Chicago Symphony Orchestra Music Now Series with Myra Melford, Philip Glass “The Bacchae” (Shakespeare in the Park – Central Park NYC) Christian Marclay Festival (Whitney Museum NYC), James Tenney Retrospective (Whitney Museum NYC), Merce Cunningham/John Cage “Oceans” (Lincoln Center NYC), Kitchen House Blend (The Kitchen, NYC), MATA Festival (NYC), Tilt Brass Band, (with the Merce Cunningham Dance Company for their final performances at The Armory, NYC)

Russ is also active as an educator/clinician, having taught at colleges and universities across the U.S. and Europe. He currently serves as Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Wisconsin Parkside where he won the university wide “Stella Gray” Teaching Excellence award in 2016 and the “Creative Activity” award in 2020. Russ also currently serves as the trumpet instructor and Jazz Director at Carthage College.

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According to the NASA Glenn Research Center, Sir Isaac Newton’s Third Law of Motion states that “Whenever one object exerts a force on another object, the second object exerts an equal and opposite on the first.” Similarly, musical forces exert their influences on composers. Whether it’s a new groove, a new harmony, or a new timbre, composers have always been inspired by the music we hear, and these musical forces push us in new compositional directions.

The goal of the Third Law Collective is to create a space where area writers can present original works for a unique ensemble. In doing so, the collective will serve as a testing ground for new ideas, engaging collaboration, and improvisational explorations. The Third Law Collective is a 10-piece ensemble co-led by a core group of writers including Dan Bruce, Chris Coles, Bryan Kennard, Aidan Plank, Howie Smith, and Brad Wagner.