Who we are

     The Red Water Trio plays classic jazz and bossa-nova standards, primarily from the Great American Songbook, and have been performing together for more than 10 years. As printed on the album jacket, “we aspire to honor and help keep alive the astonishing music that lives in the legacy of jazz, just waiting for us in these so-called standards…”  Jesse Snyder, Brian McCree and Richard Russell are three multi-talented musicians who have developed a unique sound playing this intriguing and memorable music.

     The Red Water Trio recorded Synesthesia right at the beginning of the pandemic, in March 2020 – when live performances were being curtailed everywhere, and they were looking for something positive to focus on. A new album had been in their conversations for a while, so they were ready when the opportunity presented itself, and recorded the whole thing relatively quickly, in their home studio. There is a third project in the conversation already…

     Synesthesia was produced by Richard Russell, recorded and mixed by Joey Bradley, primarily at the Studio Kumau Barn and at Gold Door Studio (both in North Kohala), with additional recording at Truth House Studio by Luke Clebsch (Kailua-Kona). The album was mastered by Ross Nyberg (Seattle).

Their first album, The Jazz Angle - Red Water Trio & Friends, was released in 2016 with Richard Russell on guitar, Jesse Snyder on horns, percussion and vocals, and Luke Clebsch on fretless electric bass & harmonica – and  with special guests Andrea Lindborg on trumpet, Joey Bradley on vocals and jazz treasure Slyde Hyde on trombone.

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The Red Water Trio is:

Jesse Snyder a multi-instrumentalist, arranger and vocalist. He plays tenor and baritone saxophones, clarinet, flute, drums and has a smooth baritone singing voice.  He received a 2018 Hoku Award (Hawaiian Grammy) for Jazz Album of the Year with the Hawaiian swing band, Kahulanui. Originally from the Philadelphia area, he has enjoyed living on the big island for a dozen years and performs regularly at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. In 2020, he released his solo vocal album MUSE. More at jessejsnyder.com.

Brian McCree plays acoustic bass, and can play all kinds of music. He received a 2020 Hoku Award with Larry Dupio. He is originally from Louisville, Kentucky and comes from a long history in the Boston jazz scene. His band, the Brian McCree Quintet, regularly performed at the Top of the Hub and he participated in Steppin' Out, John Coltrane Memorial Concerts, the Toronto Jazz Festival, and the Detroit Jazz Festival. He currently performs with a number of bands around Hawaii island.

Richard Russell plays guitar, sings lead vocals and – aside from jazz standards – writes many of the songs he performs. He was nominated for a Na Hoku award for jazz album of the year for the Slippersons Boundaries album. His music has a message, whimsy and statement about life. Richard is an entrepreneur, businessman, cattle rancher, musician and record producer. Originally from Lakebay, Washington he has lived on the big island since “the turn of the century” and runs Studio Kumau. He leads several bands: Castaways, Ricardo & Friends and the Slippersons; tours occasionally; and supports environmental, artistic and other human causes. More music at https://ricardorussell.bandcamp.com/.