By Marsie Hall Newbold
Enquirer Contributor
Who: John Morris Russell, 42, associate conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and avid collector of recorded Christmas music.
On display: Approximately 1,500 LPs, cassettes and compact discs featuring holiday songs from the classic "Silent Night" to the goofy kid-pleaser "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas."
Where: In the Hyde Park home he shares with wife Thea Tjepkema and their children, Jack, 3, and Alma, 1.
Kitschy Christmas: "My interest in Christmas music goes back to when my father would go to Firestone, Goodyear or True Value, and they would have those compilation LPs," he says, chuckling. "They just have soup to nuts , the Firestone ones especially - Sammy Davis Jr., the Cleveland Orchestra, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Dean Martin on the same album.
"Just crazy juxtapositions of worldwide music."
Mr. Russell finds most of his recordings at yard sales, avoiding antiques stores, citing them as "too expensive." He also likes to hit stores the week after Christmas when seasonal music is on sale.
Not-so-hidden agenda: "I don't collect for collecting's sake," he explains. "For the past 15 years, instead of a card, I make and send out a Christmas tape; it's my own `mix' and really nutty. Every year it gets bigger and bigger.
"Unfortunately," he adds, "We had to cull the list when we had kids." His second "gig" as music director of the Windsor Symphony Orchestra in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, also has taken a bite out of his time.
New technology: He is still mulling "the big switch" from tape to CD. "I haven't quite made it yet," he admits.
A little help: Charmed by his efforts and wanting to get in on the "act," friends and associates started sending him tapes of their favorite Christmas recordings. "I have music coming from all over the world," he says. "England, Japan, just everywhere."
This year's tape will include "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" by jazz organist Jimmy Smith, "Jingle Bells" by double bassist Gary Karr and a number by jazz vocalist Nancy Wilson. "I got to work with her in Detroit a couple of years ago," Mr. Russell says with a sigh. "I just love her voice. It's kind of nifty when you get to meet the people you admire so much. That's part of the reason I love what I do."
Hear him live: Those of us not on the Russell family Christmas tape mailing list can content ourselves with watching Maestro Russell conduct some of his holiday favorites during the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra's annual "Home for the Holidays" concert Thursday, Saturday and next Sunday at the Taft Theatre, downtown. Call (513) 381-3300 for ticket information.
Share your prize possessions with Marsie Hall Newbold by mail: c/o The Enquirer, 312 Elm St., Cincinnati 45202, e-mail: marsolete@aol.com. Please include a daytime telephone number.
