Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Randy Halberstadt - Parallel Tracks
by Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
The trio of pianist Randy Halberstadt, bassist Jeff Johnson, and drummer Gary Hobbs is based in the Pacific Northwest. On this outing, they perform a few swingers ("The Touch of Your Lips" and "Everything I Love"), engage in superior ballad playing ("In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning" and "Don't Forget the Poet"), and show off their wit on Thelonious Monk's "Well, You Needn't." Other highlights include Artie Shaw's "Moonray," the adventurous... read more
Bobby Broom - My Shining Hour
by Carol Banks Weber, AXS.com
It's important to note that virtuoso Chicago jazz guitarist Bobby Broom did not want to make a typical standard cover album in the August 19th release from Origin Records, My Shining Hour.
His previous release, the broad-reaching 2012 Upper West Side Story contains all original, deeply personalized musical accounts of life growing up in New York City. On the strength of that album and a sterling history of recognizably original... read more
Jeff Johnson - Suitcase
by Ken Dryden, All Music
Bassist Jeff Johnson has gotten recognition for his intuitive playing in Hal Galper's trio. His fifth CD as a leader is a free-spirited affair, where a lot of the music sounds improvised on the spot or with minimal sketches at best. Johnson is heard on both acoustic and Fender basses, and his group includes pianist Steve Moore, drummer Eric Eagle, and multi-reed player Hans Teuber. The opener, "Shake It Off," is a brief free jazz group... read more
Alon Farber Hagiga - Dreams I Dream
by Michael van Gee, Jazz'N'More (Switzerland)
4-STARS For me, it's always surprising how many first-class musicians and bands come from Israel, offering innovative sounds, including saxophonist Alon Farber, who founded his quartet Hagiga back in 2001 and has recorded four albums. Now his fifth album has been released, once again underscoring Farber's creativity and ability to create a unified work of art from very different musical styles and traditions. His long-time, outstanding... read more
Rodney Whitaker - Outrospection: The Music of Gregg Hill
by Cedric Hendrix, CirdecSongs
Bassist Rodney Whitaker is both a highly talented instrumentalist and the director of Michigan State University's Jazz program. He and his band (made up mostly of fellow Michigan State faculty members) bring marvelous life to the work of Lansing, Michigan composer Gregg Hill. The band's (quartets and quintets) instrumentals swing hard, riveting the listener from Note One. When vocalist Rockelle Whitaker brings her vocals to the mix on four... read more
John Bishop with Jeff Johnson, Rick Mandyck, John Stowell - Scenes
by Dick Crockett, The Voice
A new delight from OriginArts; John Bishop/Jeff Johnson/Rick Mandyck/John Stowell and "Scenes." They play McCoy Tyner’s "Blues On The Corner" in this segment with dedication, no shuck and jive, straight ahead. You know by listening these guys enjoy playing together. Rick Mandyck and John Stowell acheive a similar saxophone/guitar convergence as did Paul Desmond and Jim Hall in "Take Ten." It makes you think of flying up to Seattle/Tacoma... read more
Eric Jacobson - Discover
by Kevin Lynch, Shepherd Express
Eric Jacobson blazes. In person, the naturally powerful Milwaukee trumpeter has long conveyed the impression: "I'm gonna cut anybody here, and all comers." That's fueled some willfully dynamic solos. With trumpet poised, his muscular angularity recalls an Italian Futurist sculpture. So, Discover comes as a surprise, perhaps as a self-discovery, trading competitiveness for musical and artistic maturity.
The tune "Discover" arose from the... read more
Ben Patterson Jazz Orchestra - Groove Junkies
by George W Harris, Jazz Weekly
Trombonist Ben Patterson leads a beefy jazz orchestra through a collection of hard hitting charts that make you think what Weather Report or Herbie Hancock's Headhunters would sound in a big band setting. Paul Henry has a dancing bass through the punchy "Cheese Hat" while altoist Antonia Orta and the leader slam around a Mwandishi'd "Interesting Times". Something akin to a TV soundtrack blasts the airwaves with tenor saxist Tedd Baker and Chris... read more
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