Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Geof Bradfield - Urban Nomad
by Concert Preview, Timeout.com
Local saxophonist Bradfield was long one of our chief reasons to see Ted Sirota's Rebel Souls, thanks to his spunky intellectualism and ability to seemingly have fun on the bandstand (harder than it looks). The native Texan is celebrating a new CD these days, Urban Nomad, that should draw further attention to his unmistakable, post-bop-steeped talent.... read more
Joel Miller - Swim
by Peter Goddard, Toronto Star
Joel Miller dazzles - "Joel who?" should not be a question. Swim is as fine an album as I've heard so far this year. It's honest, direct and refined at a time noted for its lack of refinement. Moreover it's the Montreal saxophonist's sixth solo effort in a 14-year period during which he nabbed just about every Quebec musical award available.
So we must assume that his lack of profile is entirely due to the kind of music he makes:... read more
Joel Miller Sienna Dahlen - Dream Cassette
by Raul da Gama, The Whole Note
On Dream Cassette, Dahlen teams up with an extraordinarily gifted multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, Joel Miller who, in each of 12 original songs here, has tempered his arsenal of sophisticated compositional resources with fond and haunting reminiscences reflecting the contours of New Brunswick's rich and yet starkly dramatic cultural landscape. The mostly unfamiliar tunes serve as unifying devices, which in the hands of Miller and Dahlen,... read more
Hal Galper - Ivory Forest Redux
by Matthew Krępski, Multikulti Project (Poland)
FIVE STARS Five decades of jazz creation have resulted in Hal Galper's name, especially in the US, surrounded by admiration among jazz fans and respect among music journalists and musicians. In his work as an educator, Galper identifies himself with rare accomplishments. He is one of the founders of the New School of Jazz and Contemporary Music, and his concept "Forward Motion", first published as a series of articles in Downbeat,... read more
New Stories - Hope is in the Air
by Dan McClenaghan, All About Jazz
The Seattle-based trio New Stories - with a little help from some friends, and under the producer's baton of trumpeter Don Sickler - has crafted a first rate document to the undersung bop composer/pianist Elmo Hope on Hope is in the Air.
Elmo Hope, back in bop's early days, hung with piano legends Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk. According to Nellie Monk, he was Thelonious's favorite contemporary composer, though the sound presented here,... read more
Chenxi Pan - This Very Moment
by Dee Dee McNeil, Making A Scene
Chenxi Pan is a storyteller. She has a pleasing tone and has composed all thirteen songs on this album. Her vocals are tenor saxophone-smooth. In fact, on the first song "Hymn for the Spring" she and sax man, Nathan Nakadegawa-Lee blend sweetly, like chocolate and caramel. The bluesy guitar of George Rykova adds another texture to the arrangement.
Born and raised in China, Chenxi Pan changed her path of study from literature to music,... read more
Bruce Williamson - Standard Transmission
by George Fendel, Jazz Society of Oregon
Deep in the shed, New York alto ace Williamson teams up with the admired veteran pianist Art Lande in a quartet setting mainly devoted to favorite melodies of long standing. Hence, the clever album title. The quartet is completed by Peter Barshay, bass, and Alan Hall, drums. Among many high moments here, try "Just You, Just Me." A guy named Monk turned it into "Evidence" quite some years ago, and Williamson, Lande and company bring out that... read more
Clipper Anderson - The Road Home
by Tom Ineck, Berman Music Foundation
It is evident from the first lines of the opening track, Bill Evans' "Twelve Tone Tune Two," that this is the bassist's record. Despite the considerable talents and sensitive interplay of pianist Darin Clendenin and drummer Mark Ivester, Anderson's prodigious playing skill and booming, woody tone have an immediate impact on the listener.
The leader also impresses as the composer of six of the 11 tracks, including the lovely and lyrical... read more
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