Browse some recent OA2 Reviews.
Josh Moshier & Mike Lebrun - Joy Not Jaded
by Adam Greenberg, All Music Guide
Young jazz tends to go one of two directions in common form -- it can hold strictly to playing through classic ideas as the players get the music of the greats ingrained into them, or it can spin wildly out of control as the players show off their instrumental mastery with little regard for a strong, original melody. The Chicago quartet led by Josh Moshier (on outstanding keys throughout the album) and Mike Lebrun (on sax) takes neither of the... read more
New Standard Jazz Orchestra - Waltz About Nothing
by Robert D. Rusch, Cadence
This 17piece big band offers tight modern arrangements over 11 tracks [71:32]; with 6 originals from band members and 5 from outside the band like "Milestones," "Close To You" and "Star Crossed Lovers". While I don't find any identifiable footprint to the band sound (perhaps a slight touch of Kenton) what I do find, besides its tightness, is a fine use of soloists. After many listenings it was the trombone solos by Baker that continued to... read more
Angela Verbrugge - Somewhere
by Joe Lang, Jersey Jazz
There are many fine female vocalists based in Canada, and among the best of them is Vancouver-based Angela Verbrugge. On Somewhere (OA2 Records - 22228) she concentrates on standards, such as "I Had the Craziest Dream," "Somewhere," and "Born to Be Blue", among others. She adds her own "Je Ne Veux Pas Te Dire Bonsoir." Her support comes from Ray Gallon or Miles Black on piano, Cameron Brown or Jodi Prozniki on bass, and Anthony Pinciotti or... read more
Rich Pellegrin - Solitude: Solo Improvisations
by Stephen Godsall, Jazz'halo (Belgium)
This album of solo improvisations achieved two things at first listen; it grabbed my attention for 40 minutes when I'd only intended to listen for 10, then it sent me to the piano to try out some of the same ideas. Further listening has confirmed that the music is something special.
Rich Pellegrin is a pianist, composer, writer and professor of music at the University of Florida. His previous recordings include albums with his Seattle based... read more
Charlie Apicella & Iron City meet The Griots Speak - Destiny Calling
by Stephen Graham, Marlbank (UK)
With winningly loose and organic sounding pieces written in collaboration with The Griot Speaks guitarist Charlie Apicella who leads the organ-guitar-drums combo Iron City meshes in a very free flowing pan-African riff led spree. Avant bass icon William Parker superb with Elaine Mitchener, Orphy Robinson et al a few years ago on Good News is in glorious form here. Not at all way out in an obscure fashion what's evident is its accessible... read more
Greg Duncan Quintet - Unveiled
by Paul Abella, Chicago Jazz Magazine
It's not too often that you know you're in for a treat of a record within the first twenty seconds. However, that is the case here with Greg Duncan's first release, Unveiled, on OA2 Records.
Over the course of seventy-plus minutes, this disc grooves, swings, bops and just plain rocks out. The songs are well written and well executed. Frankly, the originals are so intriguing that the three non-originals seem somewhat pointless. Not that they... read more
Daria - Strawberry Fields Forever
by Scott Yanow, LA Jazz Scene - Waxing Poetic
Daria, a very talented singer from Northern California, on Strawberry Fields Forever performs ten songs composed by either Paul McCartney or John Lennon. However this is not a typical Beatles tribute album or an attempt to merely duplicate the famous versions of their hits. The arrangements of Daria and bassist Sam Bevan turn the pop/rock songs into jazz, often in surprising ways. "When I'm Sixty Four" and "Can't Buy Me Love" swing hard (with... read more
George Cotsirilos Quartet - Refuge
by Marc Myers, JazzWax
I loved George Cotsirilos's guitar the moment I heard it. His sound is shrewd and seasoned and he has a refined sense of history. There's ample swing, soul-jazz and a keen sense of fusion in his playing, and I can hear Grant Green's plucking, Pat Metheny's articulation, Joe Pass's chords and John Scofield's note-bending in his playing. Backing Cotsirilos on his superb newly released album, Refuge (OA2), are Keith Saunders (piano), Robb Fisher... read more
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