Russ Gershon Trio (Monkfish Concert Series)

Russ Gershon, saxes, flutes and vocals
Rick McLaughlin, bass,
Brooke Sofferman, drums

Multi-instrumentalist Russ Gershon has been a force on the Boston jazz, rock and Latin scene for over 40 years. His Grammy-nominated 10-piece Either/Orchestra has toured the world and made a dozen albums, as well as creating improbable collaborations with Ethiopian greats Mahmoud Ahmed and Mulatu Astatke. The Chicago Reader called them “the future of big-band music.” The RG3 gives him a chance to feature his playing, about which Danilo Perez said “he knows how to tell a story,” via tenor, alto and soprano saxes, flute, as well as the occasional vocal.

Russ co-leads the popular Latin Bugalú band Lookie Lookie and the electric period Miles Davis exploration “Listen to This.” He is also heard as a classical music announcer on WCRB-FM.

He founded the indy label Accurate Records, releasing over 100 albums including the debuts by Morphine and Medeski Martin & Wood, and has taught at all levels, from elementary school band to jazz history at MIT.
Bassist Rick McLaughlin has been on the trail with the Russ and the Either/Orchestra for over twenty five years. He also leads his own trio and is a professor of harmony at Berklee College. Drummer Brooke Sofferman is a top call sideman, busy teacher at New England Conservatory among other places, and the co-leader of the Adventure Time Trio.

The Trio plays originals and music by Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Duke Ellington, Clifford Jordan, Richard Thompson, the Monkees (!), Arthur Blythe and more.

“Immensely satisfying, with all manner of variety — emotionally, musically, in the solos and arrangements… [Gershon] plays beautifully, with great musicality — as a composer and bandleader sensitive to compositional details and arrangements. [The] show held the ear and the mind and body at every moment.” – Jon Garelick (Boston Globe & Boston Phoenix contributor) on jongarelick.com