A hard bop pianist and organist, Gene Russell is best known as the founder of the legendary '70s Oakland funk and soul-jazz label Black Jazz Records. A favorite of vinyl crate-diggers and DJs, Russell's label was home to recordings by Walter Bishop, Jr., Doug Carn, Henry Franklin, and others. Following his 1967 debut for Dot Records, he released his own albums on Black Jazz, including 1971's New Direction and 1972's Talk to My Lady. Russell also launched the equally soul- and funk-oriented Aquarican Records before his death in 1981 at the age of 48. In the decades following his passing, Black Jazz developed a cult following, and in 2020 the label was part of a significant reissue campaign by Real Gone Music. ~ Matt Collar