Browse some recent OA2 Reviews.
Idit Shner - Tuesday's Blues
by Matt Cibula, e.music.com
Listen to this debut album from Israeli saxophonist Idit Shner and one thing leaps out at you: the muscularity. Shner's tone is strong and confident, whether she is stating a melody or busting out alone. On "Yellow Moon," the opener, her solo is more of an announcement ?I HAVE ARRIVED! ?recalling prime Michael Brecker or Maceo Parker. The impression is helped by the rest of her take-no-prisoners quartet; Steve Pruitt whacks the hell out of those... read more
Libby York - DreamLand
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect
The inimitable vocalist Libby York is in fine company here, where Randy Napoleon, Rodney Whitaker and Keith Hall accompany her across these selections of old and new jazz that are delivered with a timeless warmth and intimacy.
"Hit The Road To Dreamland" opens the listen with precise bass plucking from Whitaker, as York's expressive voice unfolds with a charming, cozy appeal, and "Estrada Branca (This Happy Madness)" follows with Napoleon's... read more
Ezra Weiss Big Band - We Limit Not the Truth of God
by Jack Bowers, All About Jazz
Composer / arranger Ezra Weiss's debut big-band recording, We Limit Not the Truth of God, is actually a suite written for his two young children to help them understand and embrace the often confusing and chaotic world in which we live. It is thus entirely appropriate that the album was recorded (with an audience) in a church, Portland (OR)'s historic Alberta Abbey. What is not quite clear is the referent "we" in the album's presumptuous title.... read more
Nelda Swiggett - Blue-Eyed Painted Lady
by Dave Sumner, emusic
Gorgeous jazz-with-strings recording by pianist & vocalist Swiggett, who offers a set of tunes with a warm electricity and a fluidity of motion that just carries the listener along. Along with her standing trio of drummer Byron Vannoy and bassist Chris Symer, Swiggett recruited a cellist and violist from the Seattle Symphony, and that pairing results in some beautiful melodies getting lofted up to a high plateau via the additional harmonic... read more
Carolyn Graye with Jessica Williams - Songs
by Ben Ohmart, Muses Muse
The simple, unadorned title fits the contents. This is just an album of Carolyn Graye singing against Jessica Williams' romantic, hardly flashy piano. A real piano. It is night and nightclub jazz for those of us who really Dig this kind of naked, sweet, cool, old-fashioned style.
It is a truly beautiful release, from a truly beautiful jazz label. OriginArts. I've sung the praises on these guys before myself. They are the best of the... read more
Svetlana and the Delancey Five - Night at the Speakeasy
by Jack Goodstein, Blogcritics.org
If Night at the Speakeasy, the title of the debut album of Svetlana & The Delancey Five, raises visions of the music of a time long gone, there is truth in advertising. Russian-born vocalist Svetlana Shmulyian fronts an ensemble of jazz pros in a hot jazz and swing program of songs old and new, originals, and covers. Hot jazz, as Will Friedwald explains in his extensive liner notes, is experiencing something of a strong revival over a century... read more
Paul Tynan & Aaron Lington - Bicoastal Collective: Chapter Three
by Dave Sumner, emusic.com
Third recording for Paul Tynan and Aaron Lington�s Bicoastal Collective. In addition to Tynan�s trumpet and Lington�s bari sax, Dan Murphy is on Rhodes, Corey Christiansen on guitar, Ashley Summers on bass, and Jon Deitemyer on drums. More straight-ahead than prior recordings, this is more of a lay-back-and-play type of session. Freewheeling solos and crisp rhythm sections represent this album�s heart. A solid recording from solid... read more
Jun Iida - Evergreen
by John Arnett, London Jazz
"Evergreen" is the debut album of US trumpeter and flugelhorn player Jun Iida. The album was recorded in Los Angeles where he lived for five years, before recently moving to New York. Six of the ten compositions are his own originals, but all are reflective of both his Japanese heritage and his command and fluency in jazz composition and stylings, the two worlds being complementary and mutually enriching on this showing.
Several distinctive... 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:
Kate Olson - So It Goes
by Eric Olson, The Seattle Times
Ted Piltzecker - Peace Vibes
by Editor, Bman's Blues Report
Kelsey Mines - Everything Sacred, Nothing Serious
by Editor, Bman's Blues Report
Randy Napoleon - The Door is Open: The Music of Gregg Hill
by Editor, Bman's Blues Report
Peter Lin | AAPI Jazz Collective - Identity
by Editor, Bman's Blues Report
Kate Olson - So It Goes
by Editor, Bman's Blues Report
Lisanne Lyons - May I Come In
by Thierry De Clemensat, Paris Move
Gil Livni - All In
by Dee Dee McNeil, Making A Scene
Anna Kolchina - Reach for Tomorrow
by Thierry De Clemensat, Paris Move
Kelsey Mines - Everything Sacred, Nothing Serious
by Editor, Women in Jazz Media (UK)