Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Benjamin Boone | Philip Levine - The Poetry of Jazz
by Jeffery Gleaves, The Paris Review
Before his death in 2015, the former U.S. poet laureate and Pulitzer Prize winner Philip Levine partnered with the saxophonist Benjamin Boone to record live jazz and poetry reading sessions. The Poetry of Jazz, fourteen original jazz compositions paired with fourteen poems by the late poet laureate, has finally been released and is available in nearly every format (CD, Google Play Music, Spotify, YouTube). The LP opens with one of my favorite... read more
Sarah Partridge - Bright Lights and Promises: Redefining Janis Ian
by Neil Tesser, Jazziz
When Janis Ian arrived in the 1960s as a teenaged singer-songwriter armed with an acoustic guitar, no one would have confused her with a jazz singer. She did have a precociously mature social consciousness--her first hit, "Society's Child," dealt with the establishment's disdain for interracial romance--and her biggest single, the chart-topping "At Seventeen," boasted a bossa nova beat and enough melodic content to elicit a cover from iconic bop... read more
Dana Hall - Into the Light
by Ethan Krow, Audiophile Audition
Showing off is not always a bad thing, as evidenced by Dana Hall's latest release, Into The Light. On the album, Hall himself will not be contained, moving tempos and rhythms in new directions constantly, and he asks the same of his band mates. Each song takes the group in a new direction, showcasing the versatility of the unit and Hall's own ability to craft many different kinds of compositions.
The album starts with a Herbie Hancock... read more
Thomas Marriott - Romance Language
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record
Showing once again that his trumpet has one of the clearest, cleanest tones extant, Marriott fearlessly changes course again showing yet another facet to his interests and chops. A reminder of just how nice this can sound when played far from the maddening crowd, Marriott and producer Joe Locke raise their flag and ask 'who needs majors?' if you want to make music that needs to be heard without notes from consultants that can't play. A... read more
Thomas Marriott - Flexicon
by George Fendel, Oregon Jazz Scene
I hope the jazz community in Seattle realizes what a monster they have in Thomas Marriott. He's a trumpet whiz capable of just about anything playable on the instrument. His new CD is both an exciting roller coaster ride and a lesson in lyricism. Whether it's Freddie Hubbard's jet-like "Take It To The Ozone"or a faster than usual flugelhorn solo on "Spring Is Here," Marriott and friends have put all the pieces... read more
Geof Bradfield - Our Roots
by Dan McClenaghan, All About Jazz
4 1/2 STARS Discussing "roots" in the context of jazz, a good starting point is the Mississippi delta, down in New Orleans, where the music of trumpeters King Oliver and Louis Armstrong grew strong. And then there's the rich earth of the delta in north western Mississippi, up near Clarksdale, where the blues grew and blossomed. The roots from both these areas were, of course, transplanted from Africa.
Chicago-based... read more
Bruce Williamson - Standard Transmission
by David Kane, Cadence Magazine
Fortunately, I don't have to end this batch of reviews on a down note thanks to (13), a new CD from saxist Williamson. This is in part due to the presence of the chronically under-appreciated talents of pianist Art Lande. More than just a celebrity sideman (as with the previous CD), Art contributes several arrangements to the proceedings as well as his incisive pianism. The CD largely consists of standards but thankfully, this is no routine... read more
Chad McCullough Bram Weijters - Urban Nightingale
by Dave Sumner, Bird Is The Worm Jazz Blog
Following on the success of their 2011 collaboration Imaginary Sketches, trumpeter Chad McCullough and pianist Bram Weijters display with their latest release Urban Nightingale that they are truly a perfect match creatively.
Despite originating from opposite ends of the globe, the two have a symbiotic connection from both a perspective of group interplay and also personal voicing. Illustrated right from the first notes of... read more
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