Vancouver jazz vocalist Dee Daniels reworks pop songs from the past half-century on Jazzinit, a title designed to make the listener ask: "Does she mean Jazz in it, or Jazzin' it?"
The answer is both. She and her backing trio (Tony Foster on piano, Russ Botten on bass, Greg Williamson on drums) kick things off with a hard-swin rendition of the Earth Wind & Fire R&B number Can't Hide Love, making it sound like it was written for jazz quartet.... read more
As is common knowledge among even casual Joni Mitchell fans, around the mid-1970s her passion for jazz became increasingly integral to her work; that passion escalated through the '80s and included collaborations with Mingus, Jaco, Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock. So, at first blush, it seems odd that as jazz-savvy a vocalist as Laurie Antonioli would build a Mitchell salute exclusively around songs that pre-date Joni's jazz musicians.
In... read more
The musicians who have the greatest-longer term impact are the ones who have something new to say. But they are also usually harder to appreciate at first, because they're playing something we're not used to hearing. And so it will be for many who audition the compositions of Anthony Branker performed by Ascent, a jazz collective established to play his music.
The songs and arrangements not so much. They struck me as overly simple vehicles... read more
In one word: Impressive. Alex Graham's The Good Life showcases not only his ability as a reedman but as an improviser, composer and arranger. Backed by a veteran New York rhythm section, Graham shows hints of Dexter Gordon and Horace Silver throughout the six compositions. Additionally, Graham's talents are furthered by the inclusion of two original tunes thrown in with four created by other artists.
While Graham is an alto saxophonist by... read more
Dan Dean will redefine what you think is possible to achieve with the human voice. In this recording, he makes his voice an orchestra that "plays" spectacular classics like Mussorgsky's "Night on Bald Mountain," but it's all honest singing: actual sung notes, not sampled and manipulated electronically, What a range, vocally and stylistically; how subtle and artful the compilation of these tracks; what fine musicianship and ear-opening... read more
Although they sport one of those old-school jazz combo names that makes them sound like the sort of fusty, hidebound corporation that underwrites political-affairs roundtables on PBS ("This program is made possible by a grant from the Deardorf Peterson Group"), the Deardorf Peterson Group are at least as musically with it as hipper-named acts like the Bad Plus and E.S.T. (aka the Esbj�rn Svensson Trio). Though the Deardorf Peterson Group start... read more
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
I don't know the reason for the delay regarding the release of this new record by Amit Friedman , Unconditional Love.Finished recording in the summer of 2018, perhaps due to the pandemic hitch that also hit Israel hard, Friedman's third titular job is only now being released almost three years after its completion. Rightly celebrated in his homeland, less known beyond the borders, Friedman leads his sax, especially the tenor, towards a brilliant... 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.
Bob Nell & Michael Bisio Trios - We Are Here
by Thierry De Clemensat, Paris Move
Andrew Kim - Lineage
by George W Harris, Jazz Weekly
Bob Nell & Michael Bisio Trios - We Are Here
by George W Harris, Jazz Weekly
Dawn Clement - Dear Ms. Dearie
by Dee Dee McNeil, Making A Scene
Andrew Kim - Lineage
by Thierry De Clemensat, Paris Move
Carl Schultz - The Road to Trantor
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect
Barry Greene - Giants
by Editor, Bman's Blues Report
Gabriel Espinosa - The Brazilian Project
by Dee Dee McNeil, Making A Scene
Jon Hamar - Música Callada
by George W Harris, Jazz Weekly
Ben Patterson - Stretch
by George W Harris, Jazz Weekly