The setup is piano-bass-drums plus singer, but the leader is the drummer, and he sings some too. In fact, DeMerle and Eisele pair up like Louis Prima and Keely Smith, even if they play it straight most of the time. (But not all the time: DeMerle sings one about a sailor who comes home after three years to find his wife has a new baby named Bennie. Where'd he come from, the sailor wonders? "Bennie's From Heaven.") Eisele doesn't enter until the... read more
5-STARS Tenor saxophonist and flautist James Moody (*March 26, 1925) celebrated his 80th birthday at the legendary New York club Blue Note for a whole week with his quartet and numerous guests on March 26, 2005. Recorded for posterity, it was just released in time for his 100th birthday celebration during the Blue Note Jazz Festival in New York in May of this year.
The evening was opened by renowned impresario George Wein, before the... read more
Essence of Green is pianist/composer Ron Di Salvio's nod to the music created by Miles Davis and his sextet on the classic album, Kind of Blue (Columbia, 1959). The sound that opens the album on "Six Shades of Green" is unmistakable: that elastic, slow-loping rhythm from Davis' "All Blues," with bassist Rodney Whitaker front-and-center here, backed by a simmering, just-a-hint ahead-of-the-beat drummer wielding the sticks with sublime subtlety... read more
Matt Otto, saxophonist and leader, is an Associate Professor of Jazz Studies at Kansas University and an Adjunct Professor at Rutgers. Otto's website mattotto.org contains articles and lessons for and about music. Otto has spent over thirty years becoming a master improviser.
For this CD Otto uses Kansas City and St. Louis musicians. Some, like the bassist and the drummer, have played with Otto for sixteen years. Otto and the keyboardist... read more
The trio of Eric Jacobson, Pamela York and Clay Schaub, as Affinity Trio the midwest outfit pen a timeless version of jazz that spreads out across 10 diverse tracks. The vivid trumpet from Jacobson and warm keys from York opens the listen with the glowing "Open Windows", and "Fitzroy" continues the dynamic interaction with soulful brass and well timed bass lines. Halfway through, "Themes For Ernie" focuses much on the emotive horn and twinkling... read more
Fun fact: the weekend that trumpeter Tito Carrillo recorded Urbanessence, I played the late-night shows opposite his group at Andy's. I got to see this group up close and personal, crushing every twist and turn on these compositions, swinging and grooving effortlessly, and bringing intensity and excitement to every song in their sets. So, as you can imagine, I've been looking forward to the finished product for the last year or so. And... read more
Saxophonist Richard Cole's third disc as a leader takes a patchwork approach, varying hard edged bop romps with sunny standards and cool contemporary fusion. The personnel is equally varied, as over a dozen of Seattle's better jazz players drift in and out, casting Cole's soulful tenor and quicksilver soprano in ever-changing light. Randy Brecker adds star power and some tasty trumpet to four tracks, but the most effective setting is an... read more
Pianist Darrell Grant has carved out a worldwide trail from his Pacific Northwest base of operations. His latest release is "Truth and Reconciliation," a two-disc effort that is as honest and earnest as ever. If you ever cross paths with him, he will strike you as a gentle soul - and his musical approach tends to reflect that as well as fluidity. One reviewer said the recording "might be categorized as music to make the world a better... 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.
Abate Berihun & The Addis Ken Project - Addis Ken
by Hanna Kay, Cult News (Paris)
Abate Berihun & The Addis Ken Project - Addis Ken
by Budapest, Rudolf Radnai
Abate Berihun & The Addis Ken Project - Addis Ken
by Editor, Bman's Blues Report
Jared Hall - Hometown
by Editor, Bman's Blues Report
Dawn Clement - Dear Ms. Dearie
by Editor, Bman's Blues Report
Jared Hall - Hometown
by Dee Dee McNeil, Making A Scene
Affinity Trio - New Outlook
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect
Michael Dease Big Band - Return Trajectory
by Thierry De Clemensat, Paris Move
Brad Goode Quintet Feat. Ernie Watts - Live Your Dream: Live at North Street Cabaret
by Thierry De Clemensat, Paris Move
Maja Jaku - Blessed & Bewitched
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect