GOOD VIBES, GOOD SONGS–
LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL

Vintage jazz, Mardi Gras spirit,
and irresistible charm make
for another Birdland triumph

Catherine Russell at Birdland for a Fat Tuesday Celebration on February 12, 2026

Celebrating ten years of playing Birdland, the imminent release of a new live recording, and the sounds of New Orleans’ annual Fat Tuesday festivities, Catherine Russell was in a merry Mardi Gras mood on February 12. That was probably the case throughout her run at the jazz club. Then again, she’s reliably contagious in her mirth-making, specializing in the vintage sounds of early jazz and delighting audiences with songs that deserve to be rediscovered. Some are charming rather than classic, while others evoke more familiar tunes with similar lyrics or themes. Together, they feel like distant cousins in the same musical family who appear only for the occasional Thanksgiving dinner or wedding.

Evan Arntzen and Catherine Russell

Special treats included “I Refuse to Sing the Blues,” a nod to Helen Humes. One of Russell’s trademarks is giving credit where it’s due, acknowledging the songwriters, singers, and instrumentalists who first brought this music to life. Among those she celebrated were siblings Cab Calloway and Blanche Calloway, along with Tiny Grimes. The lady has a gift for delivering double-entendre numbers that wink at sexuality without ever seeming vulgar or coy. So when she winks, purring lines like “Don’t you feel my leg?” or “Slow up, Papa,” it’s simply good, almost-clean fun. Always strutting, swaying, or sashaying with the band, she even demonstrated the dance from “Do the Fat Tuesday,” illustrating each instruction (“Take your left hand, put it on your hip…”). A less athletic ambulation came with the familiar “I’m Walkin'” (Fats Domino/Dave Bartholomew, circa 1957).

Matt Munisteri

The band joined in vocally on “Let the Good Times Roll.” And roll they did. What a terrific band, too. The personnel varied during the engagement, but Russell’s colleagues included Matt Munisteri (guitar), Tal Ronen (bass), Ben Paterson (piano/organ), Domo Branch (drums), Jon-Erik Kellso (trumpet), Evan Arntzen (reeds), and John Allred (trombone).

Jon-Erik Kellso

The singer will actually be in New Orleans on April 26 after tour stops in Massachusetts, upstate New York, Virginia, and Switzerland. But she can make any day feel like Mardi Gras. My goodness, what a good time.

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photos by Conor Weiss

Catherine Russell
Birdland Jazz Club
315 W. 44th St. in New York City
reviewed on February 12, 2026
for more shows, visit Birdland Jazz Club
for more Russell info, including tour schedule, visit Catherine Russell

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Catherine Russell