Audio By Carbonatix
Either/Orchestra, Saturday, October 15, at the Bluebird Theater, is the odd, eccentric, precocious (but dearly loved) brainchild of composer/ saxophonist Russ Gershon. And a hardy youngster it is, for the Boston-based ten-piece jazz ensemble is now celebrating its ninth year of life. This longevity is quite an achievement: Aside from the combos led by Duke Ellington and Sun Ra, very few large groups have had E/O’s staying power or produced such a unique and identifiable sound. A cross between Kesey’s Merry Pranksters and the Modern Jazz Quartet, the Orchestra–featuring a drummer, a bassist, a keyboard player, three saxophonists, two trombonists and two trumpeters–has made its reputation by bending standard jazz formats to fit its players’ bizarre worldview. The Brunt, a followup to the act’s Grammy-nominated Calculus of Pleasure album, is a case in point: The disc features vibrant original music as well as a cover of Mal Waldron’s classic “Hard Talk” and a very cool, bopping version of Bob Dylan’s “Lay Lady Lay.” The band’s humorous. It’s creative. It’s alternative jazz–if there is such a thing.
When news happens, Westword is there —
Your support strengthens our coverage.
We’re aiming to raise $50,000 by December 31, so we can continue covering what matters most to this community. If Westword matters to you, please take action and contribute today, so when news happens, our reporters can be there.
