Over the years, saxophonist Russ Gershon (the
Either/Orchestra's founder/leader) has firmly believed in keeping his options open. Gershon's band has been greatly influenced by what jazz musicians call "the tradition" (straight-ahead jazz instead of fusion, crossover jazz, or the avant-garde), but he isn't a slave to it -- he realizes that outside playing is also a valid option. And even though the
Either/Orchestra has been dominated by acoustic instruments, Gershon doesn't believe that electric instruments are inherently evil. That open-minded outlook continues to serve the
Either/Orchestra well on
Neo-Modernism, which was recorded in 2001 and finds Gershon leading a ten-person lineup that includes two trumpeters (
Tom Halter and Colin Fisher), three saxophonists (Jeremy Udden, Charlie Kohlhase, and Gershon himself), and a trombonist (Joel Yennior), as well as pianist/keyboardist
Greg Burk, bassist
Rick McLaughlin, drummer Harvey Wright, and percussionist Vicente Lebron. While
Neo-Modernism favors an inside/outside approach (more inside than outside), the album is only mildly avant-garde and Gershon, true to form, oversees a session that is free-spirited but always musical and never mindlessly chaotic. This time, there are no arrangements of popular songs or standards; Gershon wrote everything on the album except the angular "Fast Edd," which was written by former
Either/Orchestra bassist Bob Nieske. And the compositions draw on a variety of influences, including
Thelonious Monk on "Baby Invents Monk,"
Charles Mingus on "The Modernist," and
Miles Davis on the funky yet abstract "Heavily Amplified Hairpiece." The latter is full of electric keyboard playing and recalls
Davis' fusion output of the late '60s and early to mid-'70s; it definitely has that
Bitches Brew/
Get Up With It/
Tribute to Jack Johnson type of vibe. But whomever the
Either/Orchestra is thinking of on a particular piece, Gershon's outfit is always distinctive and recognizable. With
Neo-Modernism, Gershon offers yet another reason to be excited about his
Either/Orchestra. ~ Alex Henderson