Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Hal Galper Trio - The Zone: Live at the Yardbird Suite
by David R. Adler, JazzTimes
OVERDUE OVATION
I like to pay my debts," said trumpeter David Weiss in our recent Q&A. So do I, and one of them is to pianist Hal Galper, whose jazz theory course I took at The New School for a full year (1987-88, if memory serves). You did not leave that class the same, not me at least. Now at the age of 86, Hal has been posting some longer commentaries on Facebook, often on the themes we covered that year—and we covered way more than... read more
Marcos Varela - San Ygnacio
by Terrell Holmes, New York City Jazz Record
Listen to Marcos Varela's San Ygnacio and its' clear that this bassist not only knows how to make excellent straightahead jazz, he makes it sound easy.
It's not surprising that the album is so good, considering those Varela has playing with him, all fine composers and arrangers themselves. All one needs to do is look at Varela's counterparts in the rhythm section: pianist George Cables, defined by his harmonic sophistication and... read more
Amit Friedman - Unconditional Love
by George W Harris, Jazz Weekly
Amit Friedman plays mostly tenor and a bit of soprano sax with his core team of Tom Oren/p, Gilad Abro/b, Yonatan Rosen/dr and guests Rony Iwryn/perc, Doran Talmon/voc and Joca Perpignan/voc on this mix of moods of mostly originals.
Friedman shows his warm tone and clean intonation on a duet with the Bill Evansy piano of Oren on " Rill-Cool" while the Oren goes dark to Friedman's fluffy notes on the title track. Rony Iwryn's percussion... read more
John Moulder - Bifrost
by Adam Greenberg, All Music Guide
At the beginning of Bifrost, the sound from John Moulder and his half-American, half-Norwegian quintet is fairly exploratory, ambient. By the end of that first title track, though, the sound has developed into full electric guitar mania. Moulder has his way with his guitar, to say the least. Quickly going into the next piece, though, Moulder and the band morph into an early morning, introspective sound. It may sound an odd comparison, but from... read more
Bobby Broom - Bobby Broom Plays for Monk
by Marc Myers, JazzWax
I usually don't care much for 82534 Thelonious Monk tributes, but Bobby Broom Plays for Monk is an exception. Rather than try to mimic Monk's falling upstairs playing technique, Broom applies his smooth guitar to the barbed compositions without compromising Monk's genius. The results are fresh and surprisingly warm.... read more
Hal Galper - Live at the Berlin Philharmonic, 1977
by Don Lerman, Cadence
It is certainly good news for jazz listeners that Origin Records has released ten of Hal Galper's past recordings as a leader, including this live concert from 1977 recorded in Berlin's symphony hall and released as (3) in 2021 as a two CD set. This concert, occurring in Galper's life chronology between extended stays with Cannonball Adderley (1973-1975) and with Phil Woods (1980-1990), displays a heightened dynamic and McCoy Tyner-influenced... read more
Geof Bradfield - melba!
by Martin Z. Kasdan Jr., LEO Weekly, Louisville
Saxophonist/composer Geof Bradfield enlisted his longtime employer, pianist Ryan Cohan, to play in his suite honoring Melba Liston. She was one of the first African-American women to make her name as a jazz instrumentalist (trombone) and arranger, associated over four decades with pianist Randy Weston, among many other projects. (Weston himself rightly praises Bradfield's work.) Bradfield tells Liston's story in musical movements,... read more
Joe Locke - Force of Four
by John Kelman, All About Jazz
Joe Locke couldn't have picked a better name for Force of Four. While not as overtly plugged in as the potent, near fusion-esque Live in Seattle (Origin, 2006) with his Joe Locke/Geoffrey Keezer Group, it's an equally electrifying date that revisits the same format?vibes, piano, bass and drums?but with an all-new line-up.
It's taken time for critics and fans to catch up, but with Down Beat's Talent Deserving Wider Recognition nod, the Jazz... read more
Looking for a specific review?
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.
Search Reviews:
Recently Added Reviews:
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