Either/Orchestra
City Winery Boston presents: Either/Orchestra live on January 15th at 7:30pm.
“…a sense of fun, sinuous melody, minor harmonies…[sets the music] apart from the Western canon…an intriguing mash-up of Cuban, Ethiopian and jazz—swirling, swinging, joyous, perhaps [music] that only the Either/Orchestra could play.” – Jim Tragaser, AllAboutJazz
“ **** [Russ Gershon] didn’t wait for the Ethio-jazz trend to take an interest in music from Abyssinia; this new release follows an earlier album, ‘Live in Addis,’ issued in 2005. …The album pays tribute to Nerses Nalbandian—a key figure of the ‘Swinging Addis’ scene in the 1950s and 60s … Bolstered by Ethiopian musicians, the Either/Orchestra delivers an enthusiastic and respectful interpretation of his rich compositions—a major (re)discovery.” – Frederic Adrian, Jazz Magazine, France
Founded in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1985 by saxophonist and composer Russ Gershon, the ten-piece Either/Orchestra has carved out a singular place in jazz history with its adventurous blend of tradition, experimentation, and global collaboration. Drawing equally from bebop, avant-garde, and punk DIY spirit, the ensemble has served as a proving ground for future stars like John Medeski, Matt Wilson, Miguel Zenón, and Jaleel Shaw, while releasing acclaimed albums including the Grammy-nominated Calculus of Pleasure.
In the mid-1990s, the E/O began exploring the rich sound world of Ethiopian music, leading to transformative collaborations with Ethiojazz pioneer Mulatu Astatke, saxophone legend Getachew Mekurya, and vocalists Mahmoud Ahmed and Alemayehu Eshete. Their landmark recording éthiopiques 20: Live in Addis made them the only American band included in the celebrated series, hailed as “astonishing… monumental” (All About Jazz). The group later revived the music of Armenian-Ethiopian composer Nerses Nalbandian, documented on éthiopiques 32: Nalbandian the Ethiopian.
After a pandemic-era hiatus, Either/Orchestra returned to the stage for its 40th anniversary in December 2025, and continued with appearances at the high-profile New York Winter Jazziest and the Big Ears Festival. These shows featured next-gen Ethiopian singers Munit Mesfin and Bruck Tesfaye. After their time off, the E/O has picked right up with their
boundary-crossing large-ensemble music that, in the words of the Philadelphia Inquirer, “salutes the past while embracing the future.
(opens in a new tab)🍽️ We provide food and beverage service directly to your table in the venue. Or, for an expanded menu and more relaxed experience, arrive early and enjoy a meal in our restaurant before the show. When dining in the restaurant, reservations are encouraged and can be made via Resy starting one month before the show. View Our Concert Dining Menu.(opens in a new tab)
Reserve your preferred wine by filling out this form(opens in a new tab) and have a bottle waiting at your table when you arrive at your show. No more waiting for your first drink! We will save your wine preference and have a bottle at your table for all future shows. When you want to change your wine, come back to this form and update your preference.
🎶 While we do not require a two-item food or beverage minimum, we strongly encourage it. Most ticket revenue goes directly to the artist and production costs, so food and drink purchases help support the staff, service, and atmosphere that make these intimate shows possible.
The good news: we think you’ll love the food and wine just as much as the show.
🍷 Members get 48 hour early access to new shows, pay no ticket fees, and earn points to exchange for complimentary tickets. Vinofile VIP+ members also receive many wine benefits. Add a membership to your cart during checkout to start saving now. Already a member? Make sure you are signed in to access your benefits. Become a Vinofile Member and enjoy the benefits today.(opens in a new tab)
