Jazz / Post-Bop, Progressive Jazz, Avant-Garde Jazz, Experimental Big Band
Allan Chase Sax (Alto)
Andrew D'Angelo Sax (Alto), Clarinet
Ben Wittman Drums
Bill Crabtree Digital Editing
Billy Skinner Composer
Bob Nieske Bass
Bobby Ward Drums
Bruce Hilliard Photography
Charlie Kohlhase Sax (Alto), Sax (Baritone)
Chris Taylor Synthesizer, Piano
Chris Wood Bass
Christopher Harting Photography
Curtis Hasselbring Trombone
Dan Fox Trombone
Dan McLaughlin Mixing
Dan McLoughlin Mixing
Dana Colley Sax (Baritone)
Dave Ballou Trumpet
Dave Shrake Trombone
David Lefkowitz Mixing
David Phillip Piano
David Poyourow Bass
David Prince Liner Notes
Dominique Eade Vocals
Doug Yates Clarinet, Sax (Alto)
Eric Pfeiffer Guitar, Illustrations
Eric Rosenthal Drums
Frank Carlberg Piano
George B. Hicks Engineer, Producer
George Hicks Producer, Engineer
Henry Cook Sax (Alto)
Jamie Moore Drums
Jay Brandford Sax (Alto)
Jeff Friedman Guitar
Jerry Deupree Drums
Jerry Hahn Guitar
Jim Anderson Mixing
Jim Siegel Engineer, Mixing
John Carlson Trumpet, Flugelhorn
John Dirac Arranger, Guitar
John Medeski Piano, Organ, Organ (Hammond)
John Tchicai Clarinet (Bass), Sax (Tenor), Sax (Soprano)
John Turner Bass
Josh Roseman Trombone
Judy Kuhn Vocals
Kazu Trombone
Kenny Freundlich Synthesizer, DX-7, Piano
Laurie Flannery Mastering, Editing
Mark McGrain Trombone
Mark Sandman Arranger, Guitar, Vocals
Matt Simon Trumpet
Matt Wilson Drums
Michael Merril Mixing, Engineer
Michael Rivard Arranger, Bass, Bass (Electric)
Michael Shea Piano
Mitch Haupers Guitar
Morris Acevedo Guitar
Neil Tesser Liner Notes
Nii Narku Percussion
Oscar Noriega Sax (Alto), Clarinet
Paul Bryan Bass
Paul Q. Kolderie Mixing
Peter Halter Photography
Peter Kontrimas Engineer
Phil Scarff Sax (Alto)
Robb Rawlings Clarinet, Sax (Alto), Arranger
Robert Hudson Trombone
Roger Stevenson Engineer
Rudy Van Gelder Engineer
Russ Gershon Producer, Cover Design, Arranger, Sax (Tenor), Design, Sax (Soprano)
Russell Jewell Trombone
Steve Adams Sax (Alto)
Steve Falke Engineer
Steve Forey Trumpet
Steve Grismore Guitar
Steve Norton Sax (Alto), Sax (Baritone)
Ted Pine Piano
The Orchestra Performer
Tim Ray Piano
Tom Halter Flugelhorn, Trumpet
Tom Whaley Trombone
Tommy Lindsay Trumpet
Tony Scherr Bass
Two-CD collection, all previously unreleased material from the first ten years of the entertaining and innovative ten-piece jazz ensemble Either/Orchestra.
Containing 22 tracks and 145 minutes of music, this is top quality material which simply did not fit on the highly prolific E/O's five albums to date. The sessions which produced all those albums are representedhere, ranging from the group's first studio session in 1986, to their most recent, in September 1995. Also included are two smoking live tracks, Born in a Suitcase featuring John Medeski at the nine-foot concert grand, and She's So Heavy.
Across the Omniverse is a great introduction to the E/O, containing many fan favorites which have never been avalable on CD, and is the next in the series for fans who have earlier albums.
Fabulous performances by ten years of band members including Matt Wilson, Charlie Kohlhase, Michael Rivard, Russ Gershon, John Dirac, John Carlson, Tom Halter, Douglas Yates, Curtis Hasselbring, Bob Nieske, etc.
The 28 page booklet contains over a dozen pictures and reams of information, including two sets of liner notes, by Neil Tesser (from Chicago) and David Prince (from Santa Fe), program notes from bandleader Russ Gershon, and a list of every place the group has ever played!
Marking the tenth anniversary of their existence as a performing unit, Across the Omniverse is a two-CD set which documents live recordings from 1986-1995. There are six different configurations of the band, each containing a shifting cast of ten or 11 members and the selections offer a good representation of the type of material they generally performed. Essentially, they are a just slightly left of mainstream group with fairly "standard" charts augmented by soloists quite capable of playing outside. Leader Russ Gershon showed a strong affinity for Ellington and Mingus as well as various modern masters like Roscoe Mitchell. The original compositions range from smart and catchy (Gershon's "Theme From the E-Men") to several others that sound more murky and sluggish. As in any Either/Orchestra affair, however, much of the fun is in the uncannily weird choices they make with regard to cover songs. Recordings that include versions of songs by both Burt Bacharach and John Tchicai must be few and far between, not to mention a sludgy, hard rock version of John Lennon's "(I Want You) She's So Heavy." Fans of the ensemble will certainly want this release, but newcomers would be better served by earlier, and more solid, albums like The Calculus of Pleasure or The Half-Life of Desire. ~ Brian Olewnick, All Music Guide |
