Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Les DeMerle - Comin' Home Baby
by C. Michael Bailey, All About Jazz
Nominally under drummer/vocalist Les DeMerle's brand, vocalist Bonnie Eisele, brings to DeMerle's infectious brand of jazz that necessary feminine vector. The repertoire on Comin' Home Baby is tried-and-true, well performed, and perfectly satisfying, as have been all similar DeMerle releases. Eisele proves equally capable on the up-tempo tunes ("Day In Day Out" and "I Love Being Here with You") as on the ballads ("The Nearness of You"... read more
Chris Walden Big Band - Home Of My Heart
by George Fendel, Jazz Scene
Although one has to deal with smog, jammed freeways and 16 jillion people, LA's okay if you're a big band leader. That's because you can find monsters like Bobby Shew, Pete Christlieb and Carl Saunders to play in your band. And if you know your turf pretty well, there are tons of additional first rate players to fill those band chairs. This is what leader Chris Walden has done. His is music with swagger; arranged to showcase both the... read more
John Wojciechowski - Focus
by Dan Bilawsky, All About Jazz
Every now and then you encounter a musician who has it together in so many ways, yet has largely managed to avoid national recognition. Saxophonist John Wojciechowski is one such player.
While those with strong enough memories might recall that the Michigan-bred Wojciechowski took third place - behind Jon Gordon and Jimmy Greene - at the 1996 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition, those same people may come up empty on... read more
Giacomo Gates - Centerpiece
by Tom Ineck, Kansas City Jazz
Giacomo Gates didn't decide to make a career of music until 1990, at age 40, and his debut recording appeared five years later. Since then he has established himself as a member in good standing of the ever-so-exclusive club of male jazz singers.
With "Centerpiece," Gates takes another leap forward, with a wide ranging repertoire demonstrating his many vocal skills and the natural appeal of his deeply resonant baritone instrument.
On... read more
Don Lanphere with New Stories - Home At Last
by Ira Gitler, JazzTimes 2001
Ira Gitler Top 5 CDs:
Dizzy Gillespie Dizzy in South America, Vol. 3 (CAP)
Roy Haynes Birds of a Feather: A Tribute to Charlie Parker (Dreyfus Jazz)
Kenny Drew Jr. Live at the Montreux Jazz Festival (TCB)
Don Lanphere and New Stories Home at Last (Origin)
Russell Malone Heartstrings (Verve)... read more
Dave Slonaker Big Band - Shifty Paradigms
by Scott Yanow, Los Angeles Jazz Scene
Arranger-composer Dave Slonaker has led his big band in Southern California for 15 years. The 16-17 piece orchestra is filled with major names who are not only impeccable section players but top-notch soloists. But while there is solo space on the eight selections on Shifty Paradigms for all but two of the musicians, it is Slonaker's arrangements that give this big band its own personality.
Dave Slonaker supplied all of the arrangements and... read more
Milan Verbist Trio - Time Change
by Peter De Backer, DeStandaard (Belgium)
4-STARS With his father Piet having been Jef Neve's bassist for many years, we suspect that Antwerp pianist Milan Verbist (26) was brought up with a love of jazz. It is therefore no surprise that the four covers he presents here include lesser-known works by Tomasz Stanko and Gary Peacock. He also has an affinity for classical music, as evidenced by J.S. Bach's 'Sarabande', which he transforms into a beautiful piece of jazz.
For his... read more
Dominic J. Marshall - Spirit Speech
by Bruce Lindsay, All About Jazz
Dominic J Marshall has clearly absorbed a lot of influences in his 24 years. The pianist, born in Scotland and now resident in Amsterdam, brings many of them to Spirit Speech, the third album by his trio. Hip-hop, jazz, classical, folk: it's a disparate bunch and while it isn't exactly chalk and cheese there's still a risk that mixing them all together could create something unpalatable. Marshall neatly sidesteps the risk. Spirit... read more
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