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Catherine Russell - Master Reel to Reel Tape Copy Recording


Vocalist Catherine Russell is a native New Yorker, born into musical royalty. Her father, the late Luis Russell, was a legendary pianist / composer / bandleader, and Louis Armstrong's long-time musical director.

Her mother, the late Carline Ray, was a pioneering vocalist / guitarist / bassist who performed with International Sweethearts of Rhythm, Mary Lou Williams, and Sy Oliver.

Catherine’s professional life began early. After graduating with honors from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, she toured and recorded with Carrie Smith, Steely Dan, David Bowie, Cyndi Lauper, Paul Simon, Jackson Browne, Michael Feinstein, Levon Helm, Toshi Reagon and Rosanne Cash, among others, appearing on over 200 albums.

Limited to 250 copies. 

Recorded live, straight to tape by Stella Records with zero digital tools allowed. 

Master Tape Copies from an original live recording.

Catherine Russell lit up the room at Studio 47 on April 21, 2023. Captured straight to tape on 24 channels of pure analog perfection via Stella 1020 rarely used Otari MX-80

Recorded on an Otari MX-80 at 15 Ips, on SM911 Tape, 0 VU =355 nWb/m IEC

Mixed/Mastered with 1/2 inch 1/2 track Otari MTR-10 (Brand new Flux Magnetics Heads)

Master tape copies: Created with a Studer a80-RC, Studer a807 or an Otari MTR-10.  

Price: $550 - Two 1/4" x 10.5" SM911 Tapes @ 15 IPS & Library Storage Box

You will be redirected to Stella Records / Reel to Reel Haven affiliate site.

★★★★★

"A voice that wails like a horn and whispers like a snake in the garden of eden" - NPR.

Important Technical Information about your Master Tape Copy:

Original Recording
- Live Recording 
- Straight to tape - zero digital tools used
- Recorded on an Otari MX 80 at 15 Ips, on SM911 Tape, 0 VU =355 nWb/m IEC

Mix/Mastering
- Mixed/Mastered with 1/2 inch 1/2 track Otari MTR-10 (Brand new Flux Magnetics Heads)

About This Recording

Catherine Russell is a vocalist with deep roots in American music. A native New Yorker, she was born into an extraordinary musical lineage. Her father, Luis Russell, was a celebrated pianist, composer, bandleader, and longtime musical director for Louis Armstrong. Her mother, Carline Ray, was a pioneering vocalist, guitarist, and bassist whose career helped open doors for women in jazz and popular music.

Russell’s own career reflects that same range, discipline, and history. After studying dramatic arts, she built a remarkable professional life as a vocalist, performing and recording with a wide range of major artists across jazz, rock, folk, soul, and American song. Her voice appears on more than 200 recordings, giving her a rare perspective as both a featured artist and a deeply experienced ensemble musician.

As a solo performer, Russell is known for her warmth, swing, clarity, and deep connection to earlier American song traditions. She brings wit, elegance, and emotional authority to material that spans blues, jazz, swing, and classic popular song.

Captured straight to reel-to-reel tape, her performance is especially well served by an all-analog process. The format preserves the texture of the voice, the natural dynamics of the room, and the immediacy of a live musical moment.

Head Wear Compensated Circuity

About Stella Records

Stella works at the edge of craft: microphone selection, placement, analog gain staging, tape formulation selection, deck calibration — all in service of a recording chain that has one objective:

Capture the source with the least mediation possible.

As reel-to-reel collectors — that is what we want.

This is the moment reel-to-reel becomes not just archival.
Not just historical.
Not just about “vintage content.”

This is reel-to-reel as a living studio medium again.