OA2 Records Reviews



Live Edge Trio with Steve Nelson - Closing Time
by Scott Yanow, The New York City Jazz Record

The Live Edge Trio consists of Ben Markley (piano), Seth Lewis (bass) and Andy Wheelock (drums). All three musicians are on the faculty at the University of Wyoming, play regularly in Denver and made their recording debut as the Live Edge Trio on last year's Look for the Silver Lining. Markley has led several albums of his own, including two at the head of his big band, plus combo dates with such guests as trumpeter Greg Gisbert and... read more

Mason Razavi - Six-String Standards
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect

The Bay Area guitarist Mason Razavi brings his inimitable vision to songs from the Great American Songbook, where his influences from Joe Pass and Lenny Breau are never far from the surface, and he utilizes both picking and fingerstyle playing.

"Stompin' At The Savoy" starts the listen with plenty of warmth and playfulness, as Razavi navigates around his guitar with much skill, and "You Stepped Out Of A Dream" follows with a romantic spirit... read more

Chamber 3 - Transatlantic
by Paul Rauch, All About Jazz

Chamber 3 began as a trio effort started by German guitarist Christian Eckert, and Seattle based drummer Matt Jorgensen, who forged a friendship while studying at the New School in New York in the early nineties. Over the years, they engaged in many projects and tours together, culminating in this project that includes German tenor saxophonist Steffen Weber. The band added a fourth member in the person of Seattle bassist Phil Sparks for their... read more

Amy Stephens - My Many Moods
by Adam Greenburg, All Music Guide

The third album from pianist Amy Stephens shows off a noteworthy maturity in composition. While portions of the album rest in somewhat stereotypical nightclub-style balladry, the majority of the works are in a highly structured modern jazz vein. Stephens suggests Keith Jarrett on the keys from time to time, with some dexterous moves inspired it would seem by classical training (there are hints of third stream embedded in some of the compositions... read more

George Cotsirilos - On The Rebop
by Adam Greenburg, All Music Guide

Guitarist George Cotsirilos picks up the rest of his trio for his sophomore album. The sound is somewhat what one would expect from a journeyman of Cotsirilos' experience, with slight influences from blues, pop, avant-garde jazz, classical, and Latin music. However, the music takes a direction all his own, tackling a mix of originals and classics. While the pieces covered are primarily of the usual songbooks (Johnny Mercer, Jerome Kern, Hoagy... read more

Jeremy Levy Jazz Orchestra - The Planets: Reimagined
by George W Harris, Jazz Weekly

There must be something about Gustav Holst's The Planets that draws in jazz orchestras, as this is the 3rd or 4th interpretation I've come across. Arranger/conductor Jeremy Levin leads an impressive 20 member big band that includes lots of Big Phat Band members such as Jeff Driskill/ts, Francisco Torres/tb, Andy Martin/tb, and Andrew Synowiec/g, creating a fresh and bold ensemble. The band sounds Kentonesque on the big and bold "Uranus" with... read more

Ben Markley - Basic Economy
by George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly

Pianist Ben Markley forms a hip post-bop band with Evan Gregor/b, Dru Heller/dr and featured guest Greg Osby/as on 6 self-penned pieces and one thrown in by the alto saxist. Of the latter, "Ice-Line" is a dark modal piece that has the saxist crying out to the heavens, while a similar attitude is palpable on the ¾ charger "Mind Fire." Markley gets Monkish on the funky title track and bops with the best during "Half Dozen" and calms the waters on... read more

Gordon Lee and the Gleeful Big Band - Flying Dream
by John Henry, Audiophile Audition

Portland jazz pianist and composer Gordon Lee only started writing for big band in 1995 but the ten tracks on this disc demonstrate that he's a master at it. An expanding interest in counterpoint was the stimulus for his efforts. Classical influences are in fact strong in the compositions, including Stravinsky and Mahler. Among Lee's jazz heros are Ellington, Mingus, Monk, Coltrane, Jobim and Maria Schneider (the last another keyboardist who... read more

Looking for a specific review?

This is just a small collection of the OA2 Records reviews. Click here to view all reviews or try to Search for your favorite CD title.

Search Reviews:



Recently Added Reviews:

Darden Purcell - Love's Got Me in a Lazy Mood
by Illiam Sebitz, 5 Finger Review

Libby York - DreamLand
by C. Michael Bailey, Wild Mercury Rhythm

Live Edge Trio with Steve Nelson - Closing Time
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect

Paul Tynan & Aaron Lington - Bicoastal Collective: Chapter Six
by Ruud Jonker, FWD Magazine (Netherlands)

Angela Verbrugge - Somewhere
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect

Idit Shner & Mhondoro - Ngatibatanei / Let Us Unite!
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect

Anthony Stanco - Stanco's Time
by Michael van Gee, Jazz 'N' More (Switzerland)

Charlie Apicella & Iron City meet The Griots Speak - Call to Action / Call to Prayer
by Kira Grunenberg, DownBeat

Angela Verbrugge - Somewhere
by Katchie Cartwright, All About Jazz

Jason Keiser - Kind of Kenny
by Ferdinand Dupuis-Panther, Jazz'halo (Belgium









ORIGIN RECORDS

OA2 RECORDS

ORIGIN CLASSICAL

CONTACT US

  • Origin Records
    8649 Island Drive South
    Seattle, WA 98118
    ph: (206) 781-2589
    fx: (206) 374-2618
  • Email / Order Info / Etc
THE ORIGIN MUSIC GROUP • FOUNDED 1997 / SEATTLE, WA • THE MUSIC YOU NEED