Either/Orchestra

Russ Gershon, leader of the Either/Orchestra, brings in his forthcoming record from the Ethiopiques series, plus some never-released Ethiopian radio recordings of the source material. The Either/Orchestra, founded over 30 years ago, has become one of the leading exponents of Ethiopian big band music, with several recordings, two trips to Ethiopia, plus concerts around the globe. In this episode, Russ gives an oral history of the Ethiopian Armenians and the composer Nerses Nalbandian, whose compositions set the stage for modern Ethiopian music. Original air date: February 10, 2017