Jazz Articles about Either/Orchestra

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Either/Orchestra: Neo-Modernism

by Dan McClenaghan
September 25, 2003

It's puzzle why the ten man Either/Orchestra, under the leadership of saxophonist Russ Gershon, is still something of an underground outfit. They've been through fifteen years and eight albums, the spawning of careers of several first rate jazz men, including John Medeski and Charlie Kohlhase, and scores of great live performances. The groups's last two CDs, More Beautiful than Death and Afro-Cubism, were progressive jewels – African and Latin rhythms with dark undercurrents, dense arrangements that demand repeat ...

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Either Orchestra: Afro-cubism

by David Adler
February 4, 2003

Either/Orchestra’s eighth release is a concise study in modern Afro-Cuban composition, and a sister disc to Neo-Modernism, due out later this year. The material on both albums was recorded at the same time, but saxophonist, bandleader, and Accurate label head Russ Gershon discerned two distinct themes and thus decided to issue two separate albums.

Afro-Cubism contains six tracks and runs only 41 minutes, but it isn’t harmed by its brevity. The 10-piece unit sounds radiant and reflective in this Latin ...

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Either/Orchestra: Afro-Cubism

by Mark Corroto
September 19, 2002

The Either/Orchestra has always been a little big band for those of us who don’t particularly like big band jazz. Founded in 1985 by saxophonist Russ Gershon, the E/O has played nimble arrangements of everything from Duke Ellington to Bob Dylan. The orchestra draws equally from Sun Ra, Gil Evans, Frank Zappa and Dizzy Gillespie’s big bands.

Seventeen years, eight recordings later, although the lineups have changed they still have something valuable to say. Russ Gershon continues ...

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Either/Orchestra: Afro-Cubism

by Dan McClenaghan
September 14, 2002

Saxophonist/Composer Russ Gershon, leader of the ten piece Either/Orchestra, had a problem: Too much music in the can for one CD. His solution: Two CDs, forty some odd minutes apiece, and lower the price from the sixteen dollar range down to $10.99, to better compete with the bargain-priced reissues offered up by the major labels. Afro-Cubism is the first of the new pair of CDs to be released on Gershon's Accurate Records. This is a churning Latin stew ...

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Either/Orchestra: More Beautiful Than Death

by David Adler
July 1, 2000

Either/Orchestra ends a four-year hiatus with this hip, grooving, eclectic album. An Afro-latin theme runs through the program: driving 12/8 African grooves on “Amiak Abet Abet" and “Feker Aydelmwey," a calypso/mariachi vibe on “Breaktime for Dougo," salsa claves on “Number Three" and “Slow Mambo for J.J." Yet the Afro-latin references are broken up with the Ellington-style slow blues of “All Those SOB’s," the 70s funk beats of “Musicawi Silt" and “The Eighth Wonder," and the dramatic jazz waltz of “More ...

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The Either / Orchestra: More Beautiful Than Death

by Jack Bowers
June 1, 2000

For those who appreciate big–band music that wanders from the beaten path but never far enough to exhaust one’s patience, the Massachusetts–based Either / Orchestra is designed to please. There are no shopworn standards in its book; instead, the E / O takes the listener on a bracing musical journey from North American Jazz / blues / funk to Latin and Township Jazz / calypso all the way to Ethiopian pop songs of the ’70s. Six of the nine selections ...

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Either/Orchestra: More Beautiful Than Death

by Mark Corroto
May 1, 2000

They’re Back! To paraphrase Mark Twain, “The rumors of the Either/Orchestra’s permanently playing Grateful Dead music have been exaggerated.” After disbanding the small big band in 1997 and starting a family (just add water), saxophonist and label entrepreneur Russ Gershon has reformed the E/O. At this point I’d like to exclaim “Yahoo,” but due to copyright restrictions imposed by a certain information technology mega-company, my lawyers inform me I can only state how pleased I am to tell you they ...