Search - Either/Orchestra :: Calculus Or Pleasure

One Of The Smartest, Most Fun Groups In Jazz

Michael B. Richman | Portland, Maine USA | 09/06/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Either/Orchestra is one of the best, but also one of the most fun groups in jazz. (Either/Orchestra has to be the best name for a band since The Beatles and The Who.) These musicians, led by saxophonist Russ Gershon, are incredible talents, but also playful intellectuals not afraid to expand their musical horizons to include heady humor. It is a tribute to Gershon that he has been able to keep a group of this quality together in this modern era where it is almost finacially impossible to keep this large a band afloat. "The Calculus of Pleasure," recorded in 1990, has always been one of E/O's best efforts. The album features impeccable arrangements on Benny Golson's "Whisper Not," Horace Silver's "Ecaroh" and Julius Hemphill's "The Hard Blues." It is a shame that such a great big band is so often overlooked. You can do something to change that -- buy this disc!"

Superb musicianship and a sense of humor

J. Jackson | Charlottesville, VA United States | 10/17/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I bought this CD from Russ Gershon himself along with an LP version of "Radium" (which he autographed). They were selling their wares in the lobby of Old Cabell Hall after a concert at the University of Virginia in the early nineties. One of the best live performances I've ever attended, and this CD, with slightly different personnel than I saw, mirrors that meticulous ear for detail wonderfully without losing the feeling of spontaneity that made their performance memorable. A great, great band! I'm glad to see Amazon.com has more of their stuff -- I've been looking for years!"