An underground free jazz artist.
A bold and uncompromising voice in modern jazz, Russ Lossing is a pianist, composer, and improviser whose career spans over three decades. With more than 400 original compositions and 26 albums as a leader, he has earned a reputation as one of the most creative and prolific artists in contemporary improvised music. A key chapter in his journey was his 12-year collaboration with legendary drummer Paul Motian, performing regularly at New York’s iconic Village Vanguard. This period solidified Lossing’s reputation for his deeply personal musical language and fearless approach to improvisation. Lossing has performed at leading venues and festivals worldwide, including Blue Note NYC, Birdland, Bimhuis (Amsterdam), Porgy and Bess (Vienna), and Sunside (Paris), as well as major festivals like the London Jazz Festival, Jazzdor Strasbourg, and Toronto Jazz Festival. His recordings span top jazz labels including HatHut, Sunnyside, Cleanfeed, and his own Aqua Piazza Records, showcasing his vision and versatility. An in-demand collaborator, Lossing has worked with artists such as John Abercrombie, Dave Liebman, Tim Berne, Tyshawn Sorey, and Billy Hart. After 35 years of pushing musical boundaries, Russ Lossing remains a leading voice in jazz—an artist whose work continues to inspire musicians and audiences worldwide.
Russ Lossing plays avant-garde and contemporary free jazz, characterized by complex harmonic structures and intricate piano improvisation rooted in the New York scene.
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Russ Lossing has been a core fixture of the New York City creative jazz community for over three decades.