On his first album as a proper lead for Origin, saxophonist David Sills is taking the opportunity to reflect upon his time in "The City" after a stay in New York (though his own usual locale is also a major city, LA has a different vibe to say the least). The all-original compositions here take a special effort to touch upon the New York aesthetic in many ways, but offset the busyness somewhat with a light touch on the guitar, a particularly... read more
Michigan bassist Rodney Whitaker gives tribute to the pen of fellow statesman Gregg Hill on this classy post bop album teaming the leader with Xavier Davis/p, Dana Hall-Randy Gelispie/dr, Diego Rivera-Marcus Elliot/sax, Randy Napoleon/g, Michael Dease/tb, Etienne Charles/tp and Rockelle Whitaker. The result is a lyrical mix of moods that keep a smile on your face. Ms Whitaker soulfully struts with Rivera's tenor on "New Sunday" and blossoms on... read more
Our pal Terri Hinte has a long history of knowing everything jazz and hip in the Bay area but she was too young to be any kind of first hand beneficiary of left leaning, radical and avant garde goings on in North Beach. Regardless, I can't think of anyone more appropriate to be the publicist for this radical jazz and poetry set that captures the spirit of the boundary breakers and envelop pushers that were fed up and pissed off with everything... read more
Bassist extraordinaire Harvie S does some delightful interplay with his adroit team Peter Bernstein/g, Miki Hayama/p and Matt Wilson/dr on this collection of mostly originals. He strums the strings to lead into a hip boogie groove with Bernstein on the classic "Devil May Care" while his digits pizzicato with pleasure with Hayama on the post-bop read of Chick Corea's "Humpty Dumpty". Wilson scratches and taps out a rich pulse on "Ghosts Of... read more
On his solo piano effort Aiming True, Clay Giberson is like a poet, center stage, naked, voicing deep personal musings; or a singer, a cappella, seeking truths with the rhythm of the syllables, the rise and fall of intonations in a world seemingly indifferent to the search. Just Clay Giberson, two hands and a piano, and a universe of probing sound in eighty-eight keys.
Mr. Giberson came to my attention with the Upper Left Trio's Cycling... read more
Anyone who has enjoyed previous collaborations by guitarist John Stowell and saxophonist Michael Zilber will be delighted to discover that nothing gets lost in the transition from studio to stage on this 2012 concert recording. It's an intimate quartet affair, marked by the kind of soulful, instinctual interplay that fans have come to expect.
In the album's liner notes, Stowell and Zilber briefly discuss their creative relationship, the yin... read more
Regardless of one's opinion of the music (from this vantage point, quite favorable), it is always a pleasure to welcome a jazz group led by a woman whose talents reach beyond voice or piano. Maddie Vogler, who presides over an admirable sextet on While We Have Time (and wrote all the music therein), plays alto saxophone, and does so about as well as any of her peers, male or female.
When she is not gigging or recording, Vogler teaches music... read more
The Ghana Jazz Collective (saxophonist Bernard Ayisa, keyboardist Victor Dey, Jr., bassist Bright Osei, and drummer Frank Kissi) are an Accra-based contingent whose weekly sessions at the +233 Jazz Bar have become legendary among local aficionados as well as savvy-eared visitors from out of town. Their sound might challenge some listeners' stereotypes about African jazz musicians—rooted solidly in American funk-fusion and seasoned with healthy... 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