Catherine Russell—”Don’t Take Your Love From Me” (2016/1940)

Musician/songwriter and actor Henry Nemo (1909-1999) wrote several beautiful songs which became real classics, such as his first hit composition “I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart.” Other sublime ballads he created are “Tis Autumn“ and “Don’t Take Your Love From Me,” for which he wrote both words and music in 1940. He copyrighted the latter, on May 2, 1941. Here is singer Catherine Russell’s version:

The Grammy Award winning vocalist Catherine Russell is accompanied by 100-year-old Fred Staton on the tenor saxophone, pianist Mark Shane, guitarist Matt Munisteri, who is Russell‘s musical director, bassist Tal Ronen and drummer Mark McLean. Recorded for her “Harlem On My Mind” album at Manhattan Sound Recording studios on 168 W. 48th St., New York.

Nemo used to bill himself as “Assistant King of Everything.” Real musical royalty, however, can be found in the upbringing of New Yorker Catherine Russell. Her father was pianist/bandleader/composer Luis Russell and her mother was bassist/guitarist/vocalist Catherine Ray who came to fame with the International Sweethearts of Rhythm.

But it isn’t just a jazzy royal heritage Catherine Russell is blessed with. She is also blessed with “perfect intonation, vocal warmth and a natural inclination,” as music critic Peter Vacher noted, “to give these time-honored lyrics their proper due.”

In 2012, Catherine Russell won a Grammy Award for her appearance as a featured artist on the soundtrack album for the HBO TV series “Boardwalk Empire.” Her sixth album, “Harlem On My Mind,” was released in September 2016, on the Jazz Village label, receiving a Grammy Nomination for Best Jazz Vocal Album. In March 2019 Catherine Russell’s seventh album as a leader, “Alone Together” (and her first for Dot Time Records) was released worldwide.