Groovy, swinging and sophisticated at the same time, versatile guitarist and composer Russ Spiegel hits all the right notes. Covering a wide variety of styles from rock and blues to funk and Latin and hard-swinging modern and post-modern jazz, Russ has been garnering rave reviews for his performances all around the world.

Russ Spiegel is a commissioned composer and arranger as well as a highly respected international guitarist, bandleader, writer, musicologist, and award-winning sound engineer. He received his undergraduate degree in philosophy from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and continued his studies at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Afterwards, Russ spent more than a decade living and performing in Europe before returning to the US. to settled in New York City. Once there, Russ quickly became an established member of the jazz scene. He earned his master’s degree in jazz performance at the City College of New York under the aegis of John Patitucci before going on to receive his doctorate in Jazz Composition at the University of Miami Frost School of Music as a Henry Mancini Institute Fellow.

Not only is his music is performed by ensembles around the globe, he also travels teaching workshops and masterclasses in jazz composition, ensemble training, and jazz guitar. Russ has released several CD, scores music for film, and has appeared in a number of feature films and television shows as both a musician and actor. Dr. Spiegel currently teaches at Florida International University and Barry University.

Press Quotes:

Channeling the spirited energy of hard bop with the progressive aesthetics of rock music, Spiegel carves out his own niche in the contemporary jazz scene.
—Troy Collins, All About Jazz

Spiegel plays with a clear, bright sound and his solos reveal a sure-footed rhythmic instinct and a harmonic sense which may be rooted in bebop, but which also leans towards the future.
—Charles Alexander, Jazzwise (London)

An eloquent guitarist.
—Jerry D'Souza, All About Jazz

Intellectual to the core, melodic and elegant, [Spiegel's] music will engage and challenge you at the same time.
—Ed Blanco, EJazzNews

A killer guitarist that’s simply welcome all over the world, Spiegel lays it down without pretense or drama and lets his clean lines and solid playing provide all the drama and dynamic tension non-smooth jazz should have, even when he’s playing it light and easy. A tasty cat you should definitely get to know.
—Chris Spector, Midwest Record

The scorching solos…drew applause every single time.
—Arhan Sett, Times of India