Russell Jacquet (December 4, 1917 – February 28, 1990*) was an American jazz trumpeter. He was the elder brother of tenor saxophonist Illinois Jacquet with whom he worked with for many years.
Robert Russell Joseph Jacquet was born in St. Martinville, Louisiana. Jacquet’s family moved to Houston, Texas, about 1923, when he was a child, and shortly thereafter he started playing the trumpet. His father, Gilbert Jacquet, a French Creole, nurtured his children's musical development and played in local big bands. Eventually he formed a family band with his sons Russell, Illinois, and Linton. Russell and his brothers started their own group, the California Playboy Band, and played locally from 1934 to 1937.
Two years later Russell joined Ray Floyd's Orchestra, before entering Wiley College (1940 – 1942) then Texas Southern University (1942-1944) where he lead a big band . He headed for Los Angeles to perform with his brother Illinois. During this period Russell formed his own band which became resident at the Cotton Club from 1945 to 1949. His featured female singer was Numa Lee Davis Though his band's extensive recordings included the well-known "Merle's Mood," Jacquet reached greater fame while playing for his brother. Russell was a decent trumpeter whose style fell between bop and swing. He led a few titles for Globe (1944), Modern Music (1946), Savoy (1946), King (1948-1949), Imperial (1960), and his own Town Hall label (1964).
He later played with several small groups in Oakland, California, and in Houston with Arnett Cobb. Several recordings and a tour of Europe with Illinois made Jacquet a household name among jazz enthusiasts.
Eventually, however, Russell faded from the jazz scene. He taught in the Los Angeles public schools before moving to Oakland, California, in 1959. He continued to play now and then with his brother and with other performers such as Ike and Tina Turner. In 1985 he played with his brother for the last time in New York. He died of a heart attack in Oakland on February 28, 1990.
(Edited from Teaxas State Historical Assosiation & AllMusic) (* other sources give March 4, 1990 as his date of death)