Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Big Neighborhood - 11:11
by Dick Crockett, Bopndicks 20 Picks Nov 2006
A quartet of alto saxophone, guitar, bass and drum. Simple yet more complex for this band plays big. Chris Fagan 's saxophone sings like a Paul Desmond in Toronto, a clear fall evening on lake Ontario. Then there's Dave White's acoustic guitar riffs like Charlie Christian in odd characters as the rhythmic double times a pace or two in contrapuntal harmony with a groove Messianic! There's proportional jamming as in the "The Lake," an R&B... read more
John Stowell | Michael Zilber - Live Beauty
by Martin Z. Kasdan Jr., Louisville Music News
Guitarist John Stowell was a regular visitor to Louisville during the Bellarmine Jazz Guitar Festivals (RIP). Best known for his quietly elegant work, he is, in his own words, "playing with more energy" here with his friend, saxophonist Michael Zilber. They're joined by bassist John Shifflett and drummer Jason Lewis for just over an hour's worth of music, five originals from band members, plus "My Funny Valentine" and John Scofield's... read more
David Weiss Sextet - Auteur
by Phil Freeman, The New York City Jazz Record
Trumpeter David Weiss usually builds a band to accomplish a particular musical task. Point Of Departure, a brilliant early-2000s quintet interpreted the music of Andrew Hill, late '60s mostly pre-electric Miles Davis, and underappreciated Detroit keyboardist Kenny Cox. His long-running all-star septet, The Cookers, featuring titans such as Eddie Henderson, Billy Harper (more recently Craig Handy and Azar Lawrence), George Cables, Cecil McBee and... read more
Jessica Williams - Billy's Theme: A Tribute to Dr. Billy Taylor
by John Henry, Audiophile Audition
I feel that Jessica Williams is not just the top female jazz pianist around today but one of the top jazz pianists period. She's recorded a steady stream of fine albums over the years (we just reviewed two of them here, as a matter of fact). But this one is a bit different on several counts. First, it is a tribute to one of the major spokesmen for jazz, plus being an outstanding pianist and jazz educator. I'm speaking of Dr. Billy Taylor - the... read more
Jordan VanHemert - Survival of the Fittest
by Editor, Modern Drummer
Lewis Nash has never played a "bad" note in his life, and that's why he's on so many records. He proves this again on saxophonist Jordan VanHemert's third recording as a leader. Whether it's Nash's dancing brushes on "Tread Lightly," his intro and rollicking five-minute duet with VanHemert on "Softly as in a Morning Sunrise," or his uber-musical solo on "Milyang Arirang," everything Lewis Nash plays works to perfection. Listen to Lewis Nash's... read more
Michael Waldrop - Origin Suite
by Robert Rusch, Cadence
MICHAEL WALDROP [drm/vib] is another artist with past ties to North Texas State and his big band is not traditional as displayed on ORIGIN SUITE. Recorded at various times from August 2010 though July 2017 presented here are a dozen originals mostly by Waldrop. There are also moments for small groupings. Purists will be set off by the lack of continuity in style and manner of the CD, that said, the various styles employed work well. The main... read more
Collier & Dean - Sleek Buick
by Dave Sumner, Wondering Sound
Real nice contemporary fusion recording, led out by vibraphonist Tom Collier, and also including some powerhouse names from the contemporary scene like Ernie Watts, Ted Poor, Alex Acuna and Don Grusin. Album starts out with a bluegrass ditty, with mandolinist Andy Leftwich spurring them on, then moves into more common territory. Songs have a nice motion to them, "Lettercollum/Paris" in particular, which is all kinds of likable. Typically not... read more
Ben Patterson - The Way of the Groove
by Staff, Take Effect
The esteemed trombonist Ben Patterson tips his hat to legends like The Crusaders, The Brecker Brothers and Herbie Hancock across these 10 diverse songs, where Shawn Purcell (guitar, vocals), Luis Hernandez (tenor sax), Harry Appelman (Hammond B3, piano, synth), Paul Henry (acoustic, electric bass), Todd Harrison (drums, percussion) and Evan Reiger (vocals) accompany him.
"Anniversary Patio" opens the listen with frisky drumming, soulful... read more
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