Catherine Russell's father, the late Luis Russell, was a pioneering pianist, composer and bandleader of the swing era, and musical director of the Louis Armstrong Orchestra among others. The singer's mother, double bassist, guitarist and singer Carline Ray, was a member of popular all-female band the International Sweethearts of Rhythm, and performed with Mary Lou Williams among others. After gaining her degree, Catherine toured for decades with artists and bands such as David Bowie, Cyndi Lauper, Paul Simon, Jackson Browne, Michael Feinstein, Rosanne Cash and Steely Dan.
Today, Russell works as a soloist with the finest exponents of swing and classic jazz on the New York scene. She has appeared as a guest on the most popular American TV and radio shows, and has won the German Record Critics' Award and the Hot Club de France award, while her albums have topped the charts of JazzWeek, Roots Music Report and iTunes Jazz Charts. On the back of this constant flow of accolades, she has been invited to sing on an increasing number of major projects, and appeared on the Grammy Award-winning soundtrack to the HBO series Boardwalk Empire. She has accepted the audience's applause at Washington's Kennedy Center, at Scullers Jazz Club in Boston, at the Dakota Jazz Club in Minneapolis and at New York's Lincoln Center. By inviting Russell, the Bohém Ragtime Jazz Band celebrates 30 years in the business in fitting fashion - and of course also honours its loyal fans, who are always open to new initiatives, whether they occur at the band's well-established Kecskemét festival or here at the New Orleans Swing festival, which is now entering its second decade.

Presented by: Müpa Budapest