Gershon, Russ (Ian)
Gershon, Russ (Ian)
Gershon, Russ (Ian), jazz saxophonist, composer, and arranger; b. Aug. 11, 1959, Manhasset N.Y. He played violin, piano, and guitar as a child, then took up saxophone at age 17. He studied philosophy at Harvard Univ. while serving as jazz director and an on-air host at the school’s radio station. After playing saxophone in several rock bands (1979-84), he attended Berklee (1984-85), studying with Bill Pierce, Ken Pullig, and Donald Brown, as well as privately with Bob Mover and Jerry Bergonzi. Inspired by Gil Evans, Sun Ra, and Charles Mingus, he began the Either/Orch. (1985) as an 11-person band; since 1990 it has comprised ten members. Drawing on his experiences in the rock world, he began leading the group on van tours of the U.S. (from 1988). He founded Accurate Records (1987), which has since released over 70 CDs by various artists. He taught jazz history at Harvard (1993-94) and has acted as artist-in-residence or visiting clinician at several educational institutions and festivals. He has done session work for rock and jazz groups, commercials, and film soundtracks.
Discography
Dial E (1986); Radium (1987); Half-Life of Desire (1989); Calculus of Pleasure (1992); Brunt (1993).
—Lewis Porter