Much as organist Larry Goldings, guitarist Peter Bernstein and drummer Bill Stewart have worked together for many years--specific direction resting with the name heading the marquis--so, too, have keyboardist Sam Yahel, saxophonist Joshua Redman and drummer Brian Blade been working together under a variety of monikers over the past five years. Whether it's the cooperative Yaya3, Redman's Elastic Band or the Sam Yahel Trio, what differentiates... read more
EDITOR'S PICK - DECEMBER 2012
On For The People, Chicago-based trumpeter Pharez Whitted digs into the hard-bop bag and pulls out an 11-song set that?s perfect for a weekend chill or a serious road trip. The unison lines he plays with guitarist Bobby Broom on tunes like ?Watusi Boogaloo? are infectious. ?If They Could Only See? delivers a sweet groove. But don?t think this is light listening. ?Freedom Song? packs a punch fueled... read more
It's difficult to pull off solo piano when the genre/content is jazz/blues based, but Portland, Oregon pianist Clay is able to do that without a hitch. Songs like the opener, "Little Bird", will give your ears a clear image of just how intimate/bluesy his keyboards can be. It's all about the birth of his daughter, and will be a gift to her that will last forever. I particularly enjoyed pieces like "Burst", which isn't (at all) what the title... read more
Real Talk: A Conversation with Trumpeter David Weiss
On the rigors of bandleading, and the discovery of rare tunes by Freddie Hubbard, Slide Hampton
Significant events can happen quietly in our jazz world (another way of saying they're getting ignored). Like the fact that trumpeter David Weiss recorded a previously unknown Freddie Hubbard composition, "Rebop," on his 2024 sextet release Auteur (Origin). There's a previously... read more
Vibraphonist Joe Locke and keyboardist Geoff Keezer have had three recorded collaborations - the first two were released in Japan only on a different label. Their latest CD was recorded live at the 2005 Ballard Jazz Festival and is a real gem. Imagine a revved up Modern Jazz Quartet with a more assertive drummer (Terreon Gully) and you get the picture. This CD starts out smoking and the groove does not let up for nearly an hour later. A mixture... read more
It seems fitting that Art of the Groove came out in mid-May, about a week before the late Miles Davis's birthday. The set spends some time -- and spends it well -- saluting the late trumpeter, most notably on the opener, with "Straight From Miles." Flugelhornist Rob Walker wrote the tune with phrases from the '58 recording of Davis's take on Thelonious Monk's "Straight, No Chaser." If this one doesn't have you thinking of Davis's '58 Milestones... read more
Clarence Penn, like Antonio Sánchez, is a jazz drummer of exuberant poise, and on his own albums, he has addressed music both original and canonical. Monk: The Lost Files (Origin Records), a Thelonious Monk tribute out this week, clearly belongs to the second category. But Mr. Penn, leading a quartet with the saxophonist Chad Lefkowitz-Brown, the pianist Donald Vega and the bassist Yasushi Nakamura, takes pains to retrofit Monk's tunes... read more
DMITRI MATHENY [flg] has lead a few sessions since he began recording in the late 1980's. CASCADIA [Origin Records 82849] is his latest quintet date featuring Charles McNeal [ts/ss] who blends wonderfully with Matheny on a mixture of fine originals and one jazz standard.... 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.
Dawn Clement - Delight
by Dee Dee McNeil, Musical Memoirs Blog
John Bishop - Antwerp
by John Bishop, Liner Notes
Dawn Clement - Delight
by Paul Rauch, All About Jazz
Brad Goode - Polytonal Big Band: The Snake Charmer
by Christof Thurnherr, Jazz'N'More (Switzerland)
Peter Erskine & The JAM Music Lab All-Stars - Vienna to Hollywood: Impressions of E.W. Korngold & Max Steiner
by Luca D'Alessandro, Jazz'N'More (Switzerland)
Rodney Whitaker - Mosaic: The Music of Gregg Hill
by Michael van Gee, Jazz'N'More (Switzerland)
Nanami Haruta - The Vibe
by Michael van Gee, Jazz'N'More (Switzerland)
Benjamin Boone - Confluence: The Ireland Sessions
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect
Ben Patterson Jazz Orchestra - Mad Scientist Music
by Eddy Determeyer, Draaiomjeoren (Belgium)
James Moody - 80 Years Young: Live at the Blue Note, March 26, 2005
by Jeroen de Valk, Jazzflits (The Netherlands)