Excellent music can come from construction and deconstruction equally. That seems to be the main point to be proven by saxophonist Richard Cole's Inner Mission. A number of original numbers build from the ground up here, forming a complex sound from primary elements in combination with co-writer and pianist Bill Anschell. At the same time, classic pieces are deconstructed, taken apart by the riff or the note to barely recognizable parts... read more
We're going to dive in in a change of style, if I can define it that way. And yes, because this pianist search engine for ethereal spaces with delicate themes such as "Nunu", the only ballad from the album, he splashed out by going further by discovering his musical universe full of diverse rhythms and unlikely music as is the case with the song "No Return", which despite not being alive in tempo, is where there is a space where the drummer He... read more
Alright, so here's a previously unreleased live set performed by a bunch of artists I should probably be more familiar with. This concert was recorded after Galper had just finished a tour with Cannonball Adderley, and he's joined by Randy and Mike Brecker, Wayne Dockery, and Bob Moses. All six songs are around 10-25 minutes each, and all five musicians simply go off. Opener "Now Hear This" is just nonstop energy for 14 minutes. "Speak with a... read more
There are a number of elements that can influence me as to whether or not I'll write about a CD. Music is of course, foremost, then packaging, historical importance and so forth. I have enjoyed MARLENE ROSENBERG's MLK CONVERGENCE [Origin Records 82781]. On display here is both Rosenberg's bass playing (she has a touch of Mingus there) as well as her sincere concerns regarding social justice that is missing in today's society, but what really... read more
About eighty percent of the jazz piano players out there can fit into one of two schools: that of the introspective, harmonically rich Bill Evans mode; or the more percussive and gregarious Bud Powell bebop approach. There's also a small slice of the that pie that draws it primary inspiration from bright and splashy Art Tatum/Oscar Peterson pre-bop playing style, along with various subsets. Then there are those who take a foundation of one of... read more
Pianist Bill Anschell has established himself as a dynamic bandleader and able accompanist around his native Puget Sound region. But with his new release, Improbable Solutions, Anschell leaves the acoustic piano behind and digs deep into the possibilities of electronically produced music.
New Cool host Abe Beeson spoke with Anschell recently about his new album, which isn't his first foray into the world of electronic music.
A... read more
The Acoustic Jazz Quartet is a pleasantly swinging affair. The music mixes up easy swing, bossa-nova, ballads, and soft boppish tunes. The players are all high caliber. Saxophonist David Sills has a pleasant, full tone and delivers some very melodic solos. Acoustic guitarist Jamie Findlay's tone is sweat and his solos flow easily from his frettboard. The rhythm section of bassist Zac Matthews and drummer Dean Koba are assured and underpin things... read more
Drummer Todd Bishop's last two releases: Little Played Little Bird (Origin, 2012) and Pop Art 4: 69 Annee Erotique (Origin, 2009) were exceptional expositions of concept, production and musicianship. Using his band from Little Bird Bishop switches to a collection of original compositions as his vehicle on Travelogue.
Bishop's band has properly gelled, benefiting from having played together consistently for the last... read more
This is just a small collection of the Origin Records reviews. Click here to view all reviews or try to Search for your favorite CD title.
John Bishop - Antwerp
by Dorothea Gangel, Jazz'N'More (Switzerland)
Benjamin Boone - Caught in the Rhythm
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect
Last Word Quintet - Falling to Earth
by Ferdinand Dupuis-Panther, Jazz'halo (Belgium)
Martin Budde - Back Burner
by Ferdinand Dupuis-Panther, Jazz'halo (Belgium)
John La Barbera Big Band - Grooveyard
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect
Martin Budde - Back Burner
by Paul Rauch, All About Jazz
Alon Farber Hagiga with Dave Douglas - The Magician: Live in Jerusalem
by Dan Ouellette, Jazz & Beyond Intel
John Bishop - Antwerp
by Ed Sapiega, Jazz Views (UK)
Benjamin Boone - Caught in the Rhythm
by Michael van Gee, Jazz'n'More (Switzerland)
Maddie Vogler - While We Have Time
by Dorothea Gängel, Jazz'n'More (Switzerland)