In 1998 the Orchestra rose from the ashes of the band Duke Resonant, a strange and eclectic act from St Cloud, Minnesota that often got compared to Hawkwind. Based on a different paradigm than a rock band, the Orchestra tries to work like a community classical orchestra might, with a revolving roster of volunteers and distinguished guests.
"It's a logistical nightmare, but it allows artists more freedom to not feel obligated to the act." says E.T.Moody III, the act's 'Curator', a title chosen because it is more descriptive of the role played. "I'm more like a curator than a conductor or band leader in that I choose from the recordings at hand and make an aesthetic judgment on what gets flown under the act's banner. The music is more the leader and I allow the person with the best skills to conduct the band in live situations. Mark Yee is great at this, for instance."
The resulting mixture of studio polish, genre skipping, and live throwaway improvisations leaves the act in a category difficult to name, but far from exclusive.
In 2006 the act relocated from the Midwest to the West Coast. The current contributing guests are spread out over 250 miles of geography ( with one in Minnesota!) making it difficult to pinpoint the act's "Hometown". The San Francisco members outnumber everyone else at the moment...
The act is currently producing a satire of the Burning Man Festival patterned after The Who's "Tommy".
Other works under way include a study in "Xenochronolgy", a term coined by Frank Zappa for describing the collage of unrelated recording elements that work in unexpected and pleasing manners.
A live Pink Floyd tribute show is being developed after a promising test run in October 2008
E.T.Moody3: Guitars,Keyboards,Sequencing,Vocals
Jaroba: Saxophone, Bass Clarinet
Mark Yee: Keyboards, Drums, Vocals
Dan Moore: Guest Guitars,Vocals
Kevin Kirkbride: Guest Drums
Scott Wilcox: Guest Bass,Vocals (2001)
Tim Swanstrom: Guest Drums(2001)
Tom Mundahl: Guest Vocals,Keyboards,Guitars
Russ Haines: Guest Guitars,Vocals (Larry The Musical)
Ed Mann: Guest Percussion,Keyboards(2006)
This is not a complete list!
Gratuitous adoption of improvisations from open stages
at Hair Of The Dog Lounge at Burning Man
has involved parties unknown but appreciated anyway!