Multi-instrumentalist and bandleader Hal Russell was a key figure in the free jazz movement from its beginnings in the late 1950s through the ‘80s. Russell is most closely associated with the Chicago free jazz scene, where he frequently performed with his NRG Ensemble in the ‘80s. Russell played drums, trumpet, saxophones, piano, and vibraphone, and his avant-garde tendencies were balanced by accessible structures and a sense of humor. His numerous recordings include the NGR Ensemble’s self-titled debut in 1981, 1990’s THE FINNISH/SWISS TOUR, and his solo tour de force, 1992's HAL'S BELLS. Russell is often cited as the missing link between the AACM of the ‘60s and Chicago’s free jazz boom in the ‘90s.