William Russo, 74; Jazz Composer, Arranger, Educator
William Russo, 74, a jazz composer and educator best known for his innovative arrangements in the 1950s for the Stan Kenton orchestra, died Jan. 11 at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center in Chicago. He had been battling cancer and pneumonia.
Russo played trombone in several Chicago-area jazz bands as a teenager and studied with pianist Lennie Tristano. By his late teens, Russo had joined the Stan Kenton orchestra as a trombonist, composer and arranger. He wrote arrangements that moved between jazz and classical idioms.
Russo later founded the London Jazz Orchestra and, returning to Chicago, the Contemporary American Music Program at Columbia College and the Chicago Jazz Ensemble. He was head of the music program at Columbia College until his retirement in June.
In addition to his work in jazz, Russo wrote operas and symphonies and, while living in Los Angeles, wrote film scores.
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