Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Paul Tynan - quARTet
by Dan McClenaghan, All About Jazz
4-STARS Trumpeter Paul Tynan's offering for 2019 is entitled quARTtet, emphasis on the capitalization of the embedded word "art."
Jazz recordings have a long history of pairing up with the visual arts, especially in the realm of album and CD cover images: The paintings on Charles Mingus' Mingus Ah Um (Columbia, 1959); all of pianist Dave Brubeck's "Time" recordings of the late 1950/early 1960s; and drummer Chico Hamilton's Ellington... read more
Laurie Antonioli and Richie Beirach - Varuna
by Thomas Cunniffe, Jazz History Online
Varuna is a dwarf planet located near Pluto, and although it was only discovered about fifteen years ago, it has already become the subject of an original song by vocalist Laurie Antonioli and pianist Richie Beirach. The lyrics touch upon the mythological and astronomical meanings of both the planet and its namesake, and the song's mystical, out-of-time setting is a perfect opener for the second duet album by Antonioli and Beirach. "Varuna" (the... read more
Carlos Vega - Bird's Ticket
by Hrayr Attarian, Chicago Jazz Magazine
Saxophonist Carlos Vega's debut on Origin Records, Bird's Ticket, is a delightful set of bop-influenced compositions laced with Latin exuberance and soul-jazz nuances. Vega's quintet interprets these intriguing originals with thrilling virtuosity and unbridled spontaneity.
The title track opens with energetic, hard-swinging group refrains. Vega exhibits his full-bodied, vibrato- tinged tone as he eloquently embellishes the main... read more
Hugo Fernandez - Cosmogram
by Jack Bowers, All About Jazz
Of all the instruments in a group or orchestra, none has a broader or more variable sonic profile than the guitar. When it is played properly, with earnestness and sincerity, a guitar can move the listener to tears; when it is used, however, is to elicit sounds that are best described as disquieting and cacophonous, that is another matter entirely. Luckily, Mexican-born guitarist Hugo Fernandez treats the instrument with respect, showing its... read more
Hal Galper - E Pluribus Unum - Live in Seattle
by Bret Saunders, The Denver Post
I hadn't thought of Hal Galper in a long time.
There were a couple of records showcasing his flawless piano technique that I had discovered at my college radio station in the '80s. I remembered that he was touring with saxophonist Phil Woods for a while. But for whatever reasons, I hadn't heard his music, other than an occasional cut on the radio, for a couple of decades.
It turns out that Galper, a Bostonian and respected educator,... read more
The H2 Big Band - It Could Happen
by George Fendel, Jazz Society of Oregon
Out of the gate it might be a good idea to explain the name of this outfit. It's simple. Co-led by Denver area trumpet ace Al Hood and pianist Dave Hanson, this is a no-punches pulled gathering of some of the premier studio cats in Los Angeles. Featured are such stars as Gary Foster, alto sax, clarinet and flute; Carl Saunders, trumpet; Andy Martin, trombone; Larry Koonse, guitar; and Joe LaBarbera, drums. Also on board are singer René Marie,... read more
Matt Jorgensen - Tattooed by Passion: Music inspired by the paintings of Dale Chisman
by Phillip McNally, Cadence Magazine
Finally drummer Matt Jorgensen leads a stellar 5tet on (4), and they work through an impressive series of compositions devoted to the painting of the late Dale Chisman. The nicely handled package displays several of the Chisman paintings which directly inspired Jorgensen, and makes listening to this set a programmatic experience. Trumpeter Thomas Marriott nearly steals the date, for he has a burnished perfect tone and a gentle lyric way with his... read more
Todd Bishop Pop Art 4 - 69 Annee Erotique: Music of Serge Gainsbourg
by Dan McClenaghan, All About Jazz
69 Annee Erotique gets extra credit for off-the-beaten-path-ness. It is a work celebrating the music of the late French pop songster Serge Gainsbourg (1928- 1991), by Portland Oregon-based Todd Bishop's Pop Art 4. Gainsbourg, whose name may not be person-on-the-street familiar in the United States, was a pop icon in France from the late-1950s to the 1980s, a musical renaissance man of sorts who delved into jazz, pop, reggae, soundtracks,... read more
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