With "Living Time" (1972), Russell reunited with Bill Evans to offer a suite of compositions which represent the stages of human life. His "Live in an American Time Spiral" featured many young New York players who would go on to greatness, including Tom Harrell and Ray Anderson. When he was able to form an orchestra for his 1985 work "The African Game", he dubbed it the Living Time Orchestra. This 14-member ensemble toured Europe and the U.S., doing frequent weeks at the Village Vanguard, and was praised by "New York magazine" as "the most exciting orchestra to hit the city in years."