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
December 7, 2024
Yorckschlösschen, Berlin
Mike Russell's Funky Soul Kitchen
December 31, 2024
ZigZag Club, Berlin
Mike Russell's Funky Soul Kitchen feat. MFA Kera
January 3, 2025
Badenscher Hof, Berlin
Mike Russell's Funky Soul Kitchen
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.
Past Events
November 21, 2024
Zielona Gora, Poland
Mike Russell with Zielona Gora University Big Band
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
February 2017
Mike Russell @Jazzfestival Minsk
Photos by Denis Burmakin
Get Real
The Fall
Bustin' Loose
Klos & Dabrowski Project
Thanks to
his fantastic skills Mike was invited to perform with the "Original Michael Jackson Band
Immortal Tour" for a Christmas show where he played with Greg Phillinganes, Jonathan Moffet and Mike Phillips.
In November 2015
a tree was planted in honor of "Mike Russell & Levandek Funky Team" on the Winnica De Sas vineyard
in Poland.
Interview
mit
Alex Offener Kanal Berlin, Oktober 2015
Mike
plays a 70s Hagstrom guitar