Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Western Jazz Collective - Dark Journey: The Music of Andrew Rathbun
by Editor, Modern Drummer
Saxophonist and composer Andrew Rathbun has a specific musical direction, and he accomplishes creating a nice set of music in that direction. However, describing that direction is difficult. Listening to the opener "Making No Sense" might offer the reader some help. Rathbun's music is highly composed, with large doses of improvisation, using both directional grooves and expansive soundscapes. Doses of electric piano and distorted guitar further... read more
Anthony Branker and Word Play - Uppity
by Dave Sumner, emusic Review
Branker has quietly been assembling a seriously impressive set of recorded music since focusing on composing and arranging. His talent lies in his ability to take complex music and offer it as simple expressions. What this means is that you?ll get very engaging jazz that is very easy to connect to and just enjoy listening for the sake of listening. On his newest, he has a solid line-up of Ralph Bowen on tenor sax, Andy Hunter on trombone, Elis... read more
Geof Bradfield - African Flowers
by , TheJazzPage.com
In 2008, multi-reed instrumentalist Geof Bradfield was a member of a month-long musical tour of the African countries of Rwanda, Uganda, Congo and Zimbabwe sponsored by the U.S. State Department and Jazz at Lincoln Center. It was part of a program to take American music abroad. Bradfield, however, received as much as he gave to the experience, soaking in a great deal of African music while on the tour. African Flowers is the product of his... read more
Scenes - Trapeze
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record
With the original line up coming together for the first time in 20 years, they play together like they haven't missed a step. With most of the tunes by the MIA sax man who originally left for health reasons, everyone is right back in step. With a Seattle take on a New York feel for modern sax jazz, it's that hypnotic kind of set that breathes well in the background or foreground, powered by pros that know how to... read more
Benjamin Boone with the Ghana Jazz Collective - Joy
by Raul Da Gama, JazzdaGama
Charlie Parker and Steve Lacy have inadvertently cast gigantic shadows on both the instruments that Benjamin Boone just happens to play. The former, an alto saxophonist is, quite simply, one of the greatest musicians that ever lived; so great, in fact, that when listening to his inventions we often forget that it was Adolphe Sax, who, in fact, gave him the instrument on which to invent. And Steve Lacy took Sidney Bechet's "straight horn" and... read more
Ben Thomas - Triskaidekaphobia
by John Henry, Audiophile Audition
Ten tracks here are originals by Thomas and several of them have to do with animals. Eric Likkel is credited with the 11th track. Don't let the album title throw you - it's not indicative of a far-out loft jazz trip but simply the medical term for fear of the number 13. The title track is indeed in 13/4 time - shades of Don Ellis and Dave Brubeck. The tunes are fun and varied with sometimes only two or three members of the sextet playing on a... read more
Clay Giberson - Pastures
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record
A top flight piano man can do no wrong when he surrounds himself with Matt Wilson, Drew Gress and Donny McCaslin. The result is a straight ahead date with improv touches and lots of jazz that just plain dances in your hears and head. Not afraid of left turns and whimsy in the music, this crew takes the expected and twists it into the unexpected without the results rolling off the rails. If you like easygoing jazz with some pepper in the mix,... read more
Darrell Grant - Truth And Reconciliation
by Dick Crockett, Bopn' Dicks 10 picks June 2007
Darrell Grant is a student of jazz, of life and multiple incarnations, a professor, a side man and scholarly to aspiring to young jazz musicians, which means there's a process at work, from an evolving artist of multiple musical styles to an eventual teacher to spread the word, the joy, to play jazz. Grant has developed that purpose from experience, as pianist for Betty Carter and Chico Freeman and scores of cd's featuring him as a leader. Geri... read more
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