ABOUT RUSS
Russ Anixter started working as a music copyist when the work still required pen and ink, and made the transition to computer music copying when the Mac still had those very small screens with very little memory. He has been a music copyist in NYC for over 30 years. As a partner at Anixter Rice Music Service he has supervised music preparation for countless Broadway shows, regional theater, The Radio City Christmas Spectacular, live concerts and recordings. Notable theater projects include all of the Disney musicals on Broadway, Wicked, and Jersey Boys.
Originally from San Francisco, Russ holds a Masters degree in Jazz/Commercial Composition from Manhattan School of Music where he was a student of Manny Albam and Richard Derosa. He also holds a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Relations from California State University at Chico.
The Russ Anixter Hippie Big Band features Russ’ arrangements for an 11 piece ensemble. Music for the eclectic Hippie Big Band includes material from The Grateful Dead, Miles Davis, Weather Report, Little Feat, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix and some jazz and funk classics occasionally fusing together the disparate styles.
As a composer, Russ has had performances of his music by the Queens Symphony Orchestra, The Broadway Chamber Players, and the Alfred Loeffler New Music Composium. Art of Sound Music, in Princeton, NJ, publishes Russ’ arrangements for brass ensembles and other chamber groups.
In his San Francisco days, Russ played trombone, bass trombone and tuba in several big bands and performed throughout the Bay Area. He occasionally plays electric bass in The Ward Hill Boys, a Grateful Dead influenced country band on Staten Island.
Russ is a sitting board member of the American Society of Music Arrangers and composers.
Anixter Rice Music Service was started in 2004 by Russ Anixter and Don Rice, both experienced musicians and music copyists. Anixter Rice has prepared music for countless Broadway shows, regional theaters, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, recording sessions and live performances.
Music Preparation Projects include:
Broadway shows:
Tommy Revival
Lempicka
Oklahoma - two different revivals.
Aladdin
Frozen
Escape to Maragarittaville
Sister Act
Leap of Faith
Wonderland
How To Succeed In Business (2011 revival)
Elf
Little Mermaid
Young Frankenstein
A Tale of Two Cities
Gypsy Patti Lupone Revival
The Drowsy Chaperone
Jersey Boys
The Pajama Game Harry Connick, Jr, Revival
Tarzan
Little Women
Dracula
Little Shop of Horrors
Wicked
The Producers
Tom Sawyer
Kiss Me Kate Revival
Titanic
Harlem Song
Flower Drum Song Revival
The Sound of Music Revival
The King and I Revival
How To Succeed in Business Revial
The Scarlet Pimpernel
Beauty and the Beast
The Music Man Revival
Footloose
42nd Street Revival
Street Corner Symphony
On The Town Revival
Once Upon A Mattress
The Boys From Syracuse Revival
Major Motion Pictures or TV
Schmigadoon
Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead
The Producers Movie (2005)
Noel
S.W.A.T
Fargo
Interview With The Vampire
Bye-Bye Birdie (Made for TV)
Mixed Nuts
Rob Roy
Joe’s Apartment
The Hudsucker Proxy
Snake Eyes
Femme Fatal
Marvin’s Room
Smoke
Tom and Huck
The Birdcage
Other projects and artists:
Radio City Christmas Spectacular
PBS Great Performances at 50
Kennedy Center Honors 2010
BBC Celebrates Disney
Oregon American Music Festival
TONY Awards Broadcasts
New York Pops
The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra
New York Metropolitan Opera
New York City Ballet
Jazz at Lincoln Center
The Gil Evans Orchestra
The Mingus Big Band
Billy Taylor
Joe Lovano (Celebrating Sinatra)
Jim McNeely Tentet
Manny Albam Big Band
Harry Belafonte
Gladys Knight
Kristin Chenoweth
Chita Rivera
Bette Midler
Barbara Cook
Patti LuPone