Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Hans Fahling - Hamburg: Port of Call
by Adam Greenburg, All Music Guide
An interesting collaboration between painting and music modeling itself loosely upon the work of Mussorgsky. Accompanying this set of fine modern jazz as performed by quartets on both sides of the Atlantic are a series of paintings by Patrick Haskett with a relatively contemporary style (Norman Rockwell with some impressionism, and something more that music critics shouldn't attempt to describe). The jazz is exceptional, using a guitar as a lead... read more
Chad McCullough | Michal Vanoucek - The Sky Cries
by George Fendel, Jazz Society of Oregon
Seattleite Chad McCullough enlists the help of Northwest stalwarts Mark Taylor, alto saxophone, Dave Captein, bass, and Matt Jorgenson, drums, in addition to European pianist Michael Vanoucek, on a selection of original material. McCullough and Vanoucek's writing encompasses varied moods, tempos and sonic nuances. All the players have shining solo opportunities, but McCullough's silvery tone stands out as something... read more
Marius Nordal - Ways of the Hand
by Dave Nathan, All Music Guide
The title of this album, Ways of the Hand, does not refer to the trickery of a clever magician. Rather it describes the one of a kind styles and talents of the six piano artists to whom Marius "Butch" Nordal pays tribute on this his second release for the Origin label. It's too bad that these tracks aren't arranged in chronological order so one can see the connection between the mannerisms of each as well as the development of the art of... read more
Shawn Purcell - 180
by Thomas Houbron, Couleurs Jazz (Paris)
When Pat Martino, Peter Bernstein or Color Jazz Radio praise your work and your guitar playing, you must be one hell of a "Bad Cat"!
"I saw you on YouTube playing Mynabird Blues... you are SMOKING!!!!! Really great!!! Next time you come to New York, let's play some songs!!!" Peter Bernstein
Another guitarist that we wanted you to discover in the Best of Colors Jazz Week is Shawn Purcell, on the release of "180", his second album... read more
Greta Matassa - Portrait
by Paul de Barros, Seattle Times
Album releases by Greta Matassa and Kelley Johnson show two Seattle jazz singers at the top of their game
Two artists indelibly linked to Tula's Restaurant & Jazz Club, which is closing at the end of this month, are Seattle's best female jazz singers — Greta Matassa and Kelley Johnson — who both celebrated the release of new albums at the club this summer. Where they will debut their next albums is an open question, but in... read more
Ziggurat Quartet - Calculated Gestures
by Ken Dryden, All Music Guide
The Ziggurat Quartet consists of saxophonist Eric Barber, pianist Bill Anschell, bassist Doug Miller, and drummer Byron Vannoy, with all of the music consisting of challenging originals. Barber's robust tenor is featured in his tense "Sezimora." His "Oregonian Monkey Chant" may at first seem like a repetitious, slow-to-develop number, though a different perspective on its intricacies can be obtained by listening to it on headphones. Anschell's... read more
The Spin Quartet - In Circles
by Dan McClenaghan, All About Jazz
**** 4-STARS - 2014 has been a stellar year for jazz quartets working without chording instruments - two horns, bass drums, no piano, no guitar. Trumpeter Tom Harrell released the marvelous a very groove-based Trip (High Note Records); a somewhat old-timey sounding Riverside (Greenleaf Music), featuring trumpeter Dave Douglas; the smoldering and hypnotic The Lathe of Heaven (ECM Records) by the Mark Turner quartet.
Add to the list The... read more
Affinity Trio - Hindsight
by George W Harris, Jazz Weekly
You get more with less with the drummerless Affinity Trio consisting of Eric Jacobson/tp, Pamela York/p and Clay Schaub/b on this mix of boppers and originals. York and Schaub take turns supplying the feel, with bluesy beauty for Jacobson's sweet horn on "Open Windows" and bringing an easy peppy feel to Cedar Walton's "Hindsight". York is elegant and soft for Jacobson's horn on "Theme For Ernie" with Schaub supplying nimble fingers on "Tin Tin... read more
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