Browse some recent OA2 Reviews.
Carolyn Graye with Jessica Williams - Songs
by Jason West, All About Jazz
Carolyn Graye is a veteran vocalist and jazz pianist; however, on her latest release she chooses to focus on singing and let Jessica Williams tackle the keyboard duties. The result is Songs, twelve standards that portray Ms. Graye in a favorable light, making intelligent musical decisions while adding her personal signature to well-known favorites. Highlights include her original lyrics to Ornette Coleman's "Turnaround," a bluer-than-blue "Blue... read more
Rosana Eckert - Sailing Home
by George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly
Innocent voiced Rosana Eckert fronts a core team of Peter Eldridge/p-key, Corey Christiansen/g, Young Heo/b and Steve Barnes along with guests on percussion, woodwinds and keys on a collection of self-penned tunes. She can produce a mood that is soft and mellow as on "Blue Flower," ethereal and folksy on "Someone Else's Lie" and even gets bohemian on a reggae'd "Waiting." The piano and percussion is well pulsed on "Sailing Home" and she shows... read more
Darden Purcell - Love's Got Me in a Lazy Mood
by Steven Miller, Sound in Review
Hello, connoisseurs of intricate soundscapes and narratives told through melody and rhythm. It is splendid to delve into an artistic endeavor that presents itself as a veritable amalgamation of influences, techniques, and emotions. We find ourselves today discussing Dr. Darden Purcell's latest offering, Love's Got Me in a Lazy Mood, released under the Origin Records imprint on September 16, 2023. In this review, we'll explore how Dr. Purcell and... read more
Afro Bop Alliance - Una Mas
by Bill Milkowski, JazzTimes
Drummer Joe McCarthy and saxophonist-arranger Vince Norman have been leading the Afro Bop Alliance for over a decade. Following their Latin Grammy Award in 2008, they put together an all-star big band for 'Una Mas,' the group's debut on OA2. This potent collection includes stellar renditions of luis Perdomo's dynamic "Golpe de Cumaco," Joey Calderazzo's "El Nino" and Cal Tjader's vibrant "Viva Cepeda," along with a Latin-jazz take on Benny... read more
Kelley Johnson - Something Good
by Patrick Van de Wiele, Keys and Chords (Belgium)
4-Stars The American jazz singer Kelley Johnson has twice been elected as international musical ambassador, and that since her debut 'Make Someone Happy' (1998) with Fred Hersch. She grew up in the Midwest of the USA, and her mother flooded her with music from the sixties, seventies, R&B, country, jazz and especially blues. When the family moved to Milwaukee, Kelley was in love with jazz. She graduated from the Wisconsin Conservatory of... read more
Mark Quint - The Principle of Uncertainty
by Adam Greenburg, All Music Guide
The sophomore album from Mark Quint, a jazz vocalist that's made the rounds from LA to Chicago and back and recently settled into the Seattle scene. The compositions are a split effort between Quint and Brazilian transplant Marco de Carvalho, so there's a good mix of traditional vocal jazz and soft Brazilian influences. In particular the samba is present in a number of the pieces, perhaps most notably This is the Way and Samba Groove (for a... read more
Cheryl Fisher - Quietly There
by Chris Spector, Midwest Review
Picking songs that are well known but not well worn, jazz singer Fisher does a reversal on the usual jazz diva route by making a quiet album of songs you think you know as opposed to giving Cole Porter more over exposure. With composers that rank well above chopped liver represented here, this is a quiet album for quiet times when you want to shut most of the world out. Sexy without trying, this is the real deal for jazz vocal fans that want... read more
Stan Bock & The New Tradition - Feelin' It
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record
Maybe he should have called his crew the new traditionalists, just like the new kids in country called themselves in 1980 after crossover crashed and they all took to looking back. This date, even when working out on originals, feels like the classic late 50s/early 60 jazz coming out of Chicago. Sassy, soulful and always swinging, this is a delightfully jumping date that was tailor made for putting a silly grin on your face as you... 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:
Jun Iida - Evergreen
by Editor, Bman's Blues Report
Zach Rich - Solidarity
by Jack Bowers, All About Jazz
Paul Tynan & Aaron Lington - Bicoastal Collective: Chapter Five
by George Harris, Jazz Weekly
Paul Tynan & Aaron Lington - Bicoastal Collective: Chapter Five
by j. poet, DownBeat Magazine
Francesco Crosara - Circular Motion
by David Witter, Fra Noi Magazine
Francesco Crosara - Circular Motion
by Jan van Leersum, RootsTime.BE (Belgium)
Francesco Crosara - Circular Motion
by Matt Micucci, JAZZIZ
Ben Winkelman - Heartbeat
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect
Darden Purcell - Love's Got Me in a Lazy Mood
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect
Charlie Apicella & Iron City meet The Griots Speak - Destiny Calling
by Marco Cangiano, The New York City Jazz Record