Origin Records Reviews



Marc Seales - American Songs, Volume 2: Blues...and Jazz
by Chris Lunn, Ancient Victorys

Seales was one of a host of diverse and often extraordinary keyboard players in the late 70s jazz programs I was honored to book, host, and run for Victory, that included Al Hood, Barney McClure, Jorgen Cruise, Randy Halberstadt, Joni Metcalf, Nick Allison, and many more. Seales' command of the piano stopped you with his deep understanding of blues and jazz basics and an ability to solo intelligently but make the other players better with his... read more

Greta Matassa - All This And Heaven Too
by Matt Collar, All Music Guide

Greta Matassa has a sexy voice. Something like June Christy or Carmen McRae waking up from a nap. It's this beckoning, warm approach that undoubtedly had much to do with her being voted the best jazz vocalist four times in Seattle's jazz magazine Earshot. Like many regional performers, Matassa has relied mostly on live performances to shape her career and has developed a growing fan base in her native Pacific Northwest. All This and Heaven Too,... read more

Mark Zaleski - OUR TIME: REIMAGINING DAVE BRUBECK
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect

The saxophonist Mark Zaleski pays homage to his mentor, Dave Brubeck, across these 7 tracks, where Jon Bean, Mark Cocheo, Danny Weller, Oscar Suchanek, Michael Mayo, and his brother, Glenn Zaleski, put a modern twist on old songs.

"Blue Rondo á la Turk" leads the listen with a very unique, rhythmic delivery that's quite smooth and stylish, and displays quivering sax prowess alongside Weller's bouncy bass and Glenn Zaleski's key acrobatics,... read more

Hadley Caliman - Gratitude
by Forrest Dylan Bryant, JazzTimes

It's been 31 years since his last album, but veteran West Coast saxophonist Hadley Caliman shows he's still got chops in this brisk, joyous return. Caliman's tone has a natural, humanist sound, with a soft edge and a voicelike cadence that makes even quick-tempo burners feel uniquely personal. Joe Locke's effortlessly cascading vibe lines and Joe La Barbera's tasty, rolling drum work provide steady momentum, while Caliman and trumpeter/producer... read more

Ray Vega & Thomas Marriott - East-West Trumpet Summit
by Don Mather, MusicWeb-International.com

Throughout the history of jazz, trumpet players have pitted their ability to improvise against one another. My guess is it started with King Oliver and Louis Armstrong in New Orleans. In more recent times audiences have thrilled to the creative talents of groups that had Howard McGhee matched with Fats Navarro, Art Farmer with Donald Byrd and Freddie Hubbard with Woody Shaw. Although the competition is now more friendly, under the surface, the... read more

Hal Galper / Reggie Workman / Rashied Ali - Art-Work
by Don Williamson, Jazz Review

Previously on Origin Records, Hal Galper had recorded Furious Rubato. Well, Galper's playing still comes across as furious and often as rubato. That seems to be its natural state now that he was developed his own individualistic aesthetic after 40 years of accompanying some of the most respected leaders in jazz, staying in the background for and complementing the styles of the horn players like Phil Woods and Chet Baker. The fury of Galper's... read more

Laurie Antonioli and Richie Beirach - Varuna
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record

Sometimes you just have to wait until things are right. Antonioli has been working with Beirach for over 25 years, mostly on his stomping grounds in Germany when she was based over there. This set was begun 10 years ago and was only finished up recently, and it's just the two of them for most of the set. Even when tackling the chestnuts, Antonioli finds her art chick side, making this a totally different set than her Joni Mitchell tribute set... read more

Alon Farber Hagiga with Dave Douglas - The Magician: Live in Jerusalem
by Jim Motavalli, The New York City Jazz Record

Jazz albums recorded in New Jersey, that's pretty common, but we don't see many coming out of Jerusalem. The Israeli jazz scene is unquestionably continuing to grow, and the talent there is top-notch. For The Magician: Live in Jerusalem, saxophonist Alon Farber has put together a great septet, one that sounds like a much larger band. And a visit from American trumpeter Douglas—who loves international sounds—is certainly a big bonus:... read more

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