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February 01, 2012

Episode 069: Either/Orchestra

Music Interview Podcast >Listen (TRT: 1:23:00) Download mp3

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Russ Gershon is the saxophonist and composer who leads Either/Orchestra, a jazz group that has been performing and recording for 25 years.

Either/Orchestra's discography includes Dial "E" (1986), Radium (1988), The Half-Life of Desire (1990), The Calculus of Pleasure (1992), The Brunt (1994), Across the Omniverse (1996), More Beautiful than Death (2000), Neo-Modernism (2001), Afro-Cubism (2003), Ethiopiques 20: Live in Addis (2005), and Mood Music for Time Travelers (2010).

Either/Orchestra has two shows upcoming in New England, including February 3rd at Fete in Providence, Rhode Island and on February 24th at the ICA Boston.

Through the years Either/Orchestra has included many members that have gone on to other noteworthy projects, such as John Medeski who went on to form Martin, Medeski, and Wood.

Gershon has also run Accurate Records for many years, releasing more than 80 albums of jazz, rock, and soundtracks.

I met with Gershon at his rehearsal space and office in Somerville, Massachusetts to discuss:
* how Either/Orchestra has evolved with musicians and musical styles through its 25 years
* why he has self-released the Either/Orchestra albums back before it was in vogue
* how jazz has long been a sponge for sounds, as a method to approach musical materials and improvisation.

This interview was recorded in 2007, though I missed a few key opportunities to release it sooner. But it's still a great listen. Enjoy.

Music featured in the interview includes:
1) Either/Orchestra: Coolocity (Mood Music for Time Travelers) (in preview)
2) Either/Orchestra: Fast Edd: (Neo-Modernism)
3) The Decoders: Everytime I Wake Up
4) The Decoders: Song X
5) Sex-Execs: My Ex
6) Either/Orchestra: Doxy (Dial "E")
7) Either/Orchestra: Moanin' (Radium)
8) Either/Orchestra: Red (Half-Life of Desire)
9) Either/Orchestra: Grey (The Calculus of Desire)
10) Either/Orchestra: Notes on a Cliff (The Brunt)
11) Either/Orchestra: The Jeep is Jumpin' (Across the Omniverse)
12) Either/Orchestra: Number Three (More Beautiful Than Death)
13) Either/Orchestra: Los Olivados (Neo-Modernism)
14) Either/Orchestra: The (One of a Kind) Shimmy (Mood Music for Time Travelers)
15) Either/Orchestra: Soul Tezeta (Ethiopiques: Live in Addis)
16) Either/Orchestra: Suriname (Mood Music for Time Travelers)

17) Acid House Kings: Heaven Knows I Miss Him Now