New CD is out!

available at spotify and amazon.de

Check out Mike's new blog

funkysoulkitchen.com

Kicking the BoBo

available at bandcamp

Upcoming Dates

November 1, 2024

Jazzfest / Afrikahaus Berlin

MFA Kera w./ Mike Russell & Charles Sammons

November 2, 2024

Yorckschlösschen, Berlin

Mike Russell's Funky Soul Kitchen

November 21, 2024

Zielona Gora, Poland

Mike Russell with Zielona Gora University Big Band

December 7, 2024

Yorckschlösschen, Berlin

Mike Russell's Funky Soul Kitchen

Past Events

April 22, 2023

Weinscheune Kodersdorf

Mike Russell's Funky Soul Kitchen feat. Dorrey Lin Lyles

August 29, 2020

Jazzfestival Prerov, Czech Republic

Mike Russell & Levandek Funky Team

October 31, 2018

Jazzfestival Tczew/Dirschau, Poland

Mike Russell & friends

April 21, 2018

Jazz Club Kameleon, Kandrzin-Cosel, Poland

Mike Russell & Levandek Funky Team

February 28, 2018

Jazzclub Minsk

Mike Russell & Fuasi Abdul Khaliq

December 31, 2017

Quasimodo, Berlin

New Year's Party with Mike Russell's Funky Soul Kitchen w./ special guest MFA Kera

Mike Russell

Mike Russell was born in 1952 in Washington D.C. and began studying classical and Flamenco guitar at an early age. His professional career started in the 60s with soul and blues bands.

Song writing and composing was an early interest and this creative side resulted in some studio work with Columbia Records as guitarist and composer. 

The year 1970 was his first record release as composer and the title "Black Woman" was recorded by Grammy nominated Gloria Taylor and culminated in a US tour.

The year 1972 saw his own Jazz-Rock group "Water Forest" perform Andy Warhol at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.

Since moving to Berlin in 1989 he has performed with Eddy Harris, Billy Bang and many others. He formed the Black Heritage Orchestra with singer MFA KERA and released the CD in 1995 which reached the Top 10 European world music charts. He also has created his own Jazz-Soul-Funk sound.

He performed on German TV, Guinness Festival South Africa, Greece, Poland and America and returned to Washington D.C. to perform with Mfa Kera & Black Heritage at the world famous Blues Alley Jazz Club and Smithsonian Center. He was also invited to host special workshops at the George Washington University Jazz Department.

He recently toured in Poland and Ukraine where he counts thousands of fans.