LIVE REVIEW - THE NEW SCHOOL, NYC, 3/6/2012
"Here's how it's gonna work," said pianist Hal Galper. Appearing with bassist Jeff Johnson and drummer John Bishop last month, Galper jumpstarted the New School release concert for Trip The Light Fantastic with a frank rundown of the evening to come. And once the group delved into "Alice in Wonderland," it became clear just how the evening would work: as an eclectic stretch of... read more
The project merges the different activities of Arthur Kell who played extensively at Bar LunÀtico in Brooklyn as a sideman for artists such as Kenny Wollesen, Roy Nathanson, Paul Bollenback, Matt Darriau and Avram Fefer. This generation contributed greatly to the flourishing and maintenance of a vibrant music scene in today's Brooklyn. Likewise, the involvement of Arthur Kell through this scene allowed him to develop his latest musical... read more
On this, his latest CD, Corey Christiansen interprets in a thoroughly modern jazz way, some of the old cowboy songs and melodies of the frontier.Tunes like "Streets of Laredo;" "Red River Valley" and "Sittin' on Top of the World" will be quite familiar to many of us and the latter title really swings. The other tunes which may not be as familiar are given an excellent jazz treatment and proves that any tune with a great melody can be... read more
The guitar trio is a challenging format for any six stringer. So often the end result is an album full of knuckle busting licks and very little in the way of substance. Veteran guitarist Bobby Broom avoids those pitfalls on his latest effort Song And Dance. Broom, along with bassist Dennis Carroll and drummer Kobie Watkins, avoids a noodle fest and serves the melodies the respect they deserve. Make no mistake though, these guys can cook.
The... read more
Both artists were in duos at our jazz sessions during the late 70s at The Other Side of the Tracks in Auburn. Stowell came up from Portland with David Friesen; Dean did his duo work with vibes player Tom Collier. They were both amazing musicians then and have continued to explore music with a keen inventive sense. This collection is all original tunes by Stowell that he left with Dean to develop some layered vocal. The project developed over the... read more
Mexican-born Hugo Fernandez is a modern jazz guitarist who follows up his well-received debut album Origenes (CDbaby, 2012) with the new modern-styled Cosmogram featuring eight sophisticated original compositions in a generally warm-natured set of light and engaging modern jazz. A graduate of the prestigious Berklee School of Music in Boston, Fernandez decided to move to Madrid, Spain where he is now based where he draws from an... read more
This 9-song set features 7 superb originals from the pens of principals Brent Jensen (alto) and Rob Walker (flugelhorn), alongside gorgeous takes on "It Could Happen To You" and, especially, "You Go To My Head." Backed by the New Stories Trio of pianist Marc Seales, bassist Doug Miller and drummer John Bishop, Jensen and Walker bring clever compositions, tight arrangements and outstanding performances to the program. This gem is loaded with... read more
Regardless of one's opinion of the music (from this vantage point, quite favorable), it is always a pleasure to welcome a jazz group led by a woman whose talents reach beyond voice or piano. Maddie Vogler, who presides over an admirable sextet on While We Have Time (and wrote all the music therein), plays alto saxophone, and does so about as well as any of her peers, male or female.
When she is not gigging or recording, Vogler teaches music... 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.
Karrin Allyson - A Kiss for Brazil
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect
John La Barbera Big Band - Grooveyard
by Ruud Jonker, FWD Magazine (Netherlands)
Brad Goode - Polytonal Big Band: The Snake Charmer
by Thierry De Clemensat, Paris Move
Ben Patterson Jazz Orchestra - Groove Junkies
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect
David Weiss Sextet - Auteur
by David R. Adler, JazzTimes
Chuck Owen & ReSurgence - Magic Light
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect
Jordan VanHemert - Deep in the Soil
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect
Geoff Stradling & The StradBand - Nimble Digits
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect
Robby Ameen - Live at the Poster Museum
by Editor, Modern Drummer
David Weiss Sextet - Auteur
by Editor, Modern Drummer