There’s something to be said of a group of people that can stay friends for over twenty-five years, especially when they’re working together. The Either/Orchestra celebrated it’s 25th year together in 2010 with Mood Music For Time Travellers, an album that shows off their chemistry and ease as a group.
Russ Gershon, a saxophonist, seems to be the band’s leader and one of the few permanent members. His jazz compositions are well arranged and pleasant to the ear; clearly over 25 years of doing the same job has made him quite the expert on how to write gentle, breezy songs.
It’s all a little too easy, however, and I found myself wishing that the songs took more of a challenging role. As someone who has played jazz before, I know it’s very boring to play a repetitive arrangement, but it’s even more boring to listen to. I’ve never heard the previous albums made by the group, but that hardly matters – this particular album was too easy, and too relaxed. That’s not to say that it was a completely pointless piece of work; if the goal was to show that the band can jam together and mesh so completely that they don’t realize how easy-going they’ve become, then the goal was accomplished.
Many of the songs were interesting, and the lack of risk made them downright frustrating. “Latin Dimensions” could have been an absolute spectacle, but instead, it’s played way too safely and it’s just a cute listen. You’d expect a song with a title like “History Lesson” to teach you a little something about jazz through the years, but instead of impressing you with the range these musicians have, it’s just a letdown.
The Either/Orchestra has the potential to make beautiful new music, and that’s what’s so frustrating about an album like Mood Music For Time Travellers. After 25 years, they should know better than to play it safe.
Key Tracks: Latin Dimensions, History Lesson, Thirty Five
Abbey K. Davis - Sr. Muzikreviews.com Staff
July 27, 2011