Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Anthony Branker & Ascent - Blessings
by Adam Greenberg, All Music Guide
While spending time in Estonia on a Fullbright scholarship, composer Anthony Branker put together a long series of contemporary jazz compositions. Returning to the states, the group Ascent was put together largely around him and his work, and began releasing albums (beginning with 2006's Spirit Songs). On Blessings, the group works their way through a pleasing mix of layered jazz. There are always melodic lines playing here ? even in the quieter... read more
David Friesen - A Light Shining Through
by George W Harris, Jazz Weekly
A rich tapestry of ideas both concise and drawn out are delivered by David Friesen, who plays the Hemage bass, piano and percussion with a mix and match team of saxist Joe Manis, percussionists Alex Fantaev & Charlie Doggett and the guest appearances of the Kyiv Mozart String Quartet. The sixteen pieces include a handful of pieces 5-6 minutes with strings such as the graceful "Softly Tells The Story" and A Light Shining Through" that include... read more
Margo Rey - The Roots of Rey | Despacito Margo
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record
Giving chestnuts a Latin tinge, this jazz vocalist with a serious art bent knows how to make it work better than it should. No stranger to the top of the charts, she blends her skills in a most tantalizing way. Fun stuff jazz vocal fans looking for something new and different are sure to... read more
Andrea Brachfeld - Brazilian Whispers
by Philip Booth, JazzTimes
For Brazilian Whispers, veteran flutist Andrea Brachfeld dives deep into the Jobim book, turning out fresh interpretations of familiar gems. Best known for her affiliations with Slide Hampton, Wallace Roney, and Dave Valentin, Brachfeld is joined by her regular working band—longtime collaborator Bill O'Connell on piano and Rhodes, double bassist Harvie S, and drummer Jason Tiemann—on about half the tracks. "Double Rainbow," its... read more
New York Voices - Reminiscing in Tempo
by Allen Morrison, DownBeat
The title track of New York Voices' new album, Reminiscing In Tempo (Origin), was one of Duke Ellington's first long-form compositions in the 1930s. (Mel Tormé added the poignant lyrics in 1962.) It's an apt tune for a group now celebrating its 30th anniversary.
Founded at Ithaca College, New York Voices remains one of the world's foremost vocal jazz groups. The original quintet became a quartet with its current lineup in 1994: tenor... read more
Anthony Branker and Word Play - The Forward (Towards Equality) Suite
by Joe Tangari, Downbeat
In 1999, Anthony Branker was forced to stop playing trumpet due to a medical condition. Where many musicians would have felt silenced losing their ability to play, Branker shifted his energy to composing and assembled two collectives, Word play and Ascent, to bring his music to life.
Word Play is the band on his most recent release, The Forward (Towards Equality) Suite (Origin), a wide-ranging and powerful rumination on America's... read more
Piet Verbist - Secret Exit to Another Dimension
by Ferdinand Dupuis-Panther, Jazz'Halo (Belgium)
Piet Verbist dedicated some tracks from the current album to various people from his family environment: "A Noble Trice", an anagram for Celebration, the parents Joske & Leo, "Minikin Milan", the final track of the album, the son Milan Verbist, "Bridge House" Rob and Magda - whoever that is - and "Ji Ha" guitar virtuoso Jim Hall. The album cover is taken from a street art action credited to Antoine Caramalli and was part of an action called... read more
John Moulder - Bifrost
by Adam Greenberg, All Music Guide
At the beginning of Bifrost, the sound from John Moulder and his half-American, half-Norwegian quintet is fairly exploratory, ambient. By the end of that first title track, though, the sound has developed into full electric guitar mania. Moulder has his way with his guitar, to say the least. Quickly going into the next piece, though, Moulder and the band morph into an early morning, introspective sound. It may sound an odd comparison, but from... read more
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