Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Clark Sommers - Ba(SH)
by Peter Margasak, Chicago Reader
Over the past decade Clark Sommers has emerged as one of Chicago's finest bassists, lending myriad bands an agile but hefty center of gravity and a muscular, propulsive kick. For his first recording under his own name, he leads a trio with drummer Dana Hall and reedist Geof Bradfield, two players who've worked with him on and off in many settings over the years. In the liner notes for the new Ba(SH) (Origin), Chicago bassist Dennis Carroll... read more
Hans Teuber & Jeff Johnson - Deuce
by Ian Gwin, Earshot Jazz
Veterans of the Seattle scene and kindred "wise musical souls," saxophonist Hans Teuber and bassist Jeff Johnson have aptly named their duo debut. The etymology of "deuce" traces back to the number two, but along the way has picked up the spice of the devil and the underworld aura of the gambling den: like rolling snake eyes, a deuce pins the player at their own game. Similarly, in Deuce, Teuber and Johnson lay down all their cards. With cunning... read more
Tom Rizzo - Day and Night
by Jack Bowers, All About Jazz
The names in guitarist Tom Rizzo's starting lineup on Day and Night indicate that this is a West Coast-based group, an observation that is borne out in Rizzo's bio, which says he is "active [on] the Los Angeles music scene" and served as guitarist for the Tonight Show band when Jay Leno was at the helm, reinforced by the song "Heart of L.A.," one of Rizzo's four original compositions.
Rizzo's tentet, featuring some of the Los Angeles area's... read more
Metropolitan Jazz Octet - The Bowie Project
by Chris Baber, Jazz Views (UK)
Having recently pondered the ways in which Bowie's music related to jazz, it was a pleasure to receive this CD to review. Immediately, you are struck by the mixture of songs that the octet has chosen. There are, of course, well known tunes such as 'Changes' (track 3), 'Let's dance' (track 6), 'Life on Mars' (track 11), but also a host of tracks from albums across Bowie's career. This suggests to me that this is clearly a project developed... read more
Hal Galper Trio - The Zone: Live at the Yardbird Suite
by Mike Joyce, JazzTimes
It's not often that seasoned jazz musicians find one of their own recordings truly revelatory in hindsight. Yet here's a striking example. As acclaimed veteran pianist Hal Galper recalls in his CD liner notes, he had no intention of releasing this live 2016 trio session with bassist Jeff Johnson and drummer John Bishop until he heard a playback and found himself wondering, "Who is this pianist?" To Galper, the playback revealed such a heightened... read more
Jessica Williams - The Art of the Piano
by Andrea Canter, The Jazz Police
Although piled high with critical accolades, awards, and grants over her nearly five-decade career, pianist Jessica Williams remains a somewhat obscure if Herculean talent. Seldom performing outside of the west coast, and most often in solo, the Baltimore native is known to discerning audiences primarily through her vast discography and sheaf of original compositions. Nominated twice for a Grammy for best instrumental album, Jessica should get a... read more
Brent Jensen / Bill Anschell / Chris Symer - Blueprints
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record
Get those atavistic genes out of the back of the closet and wear them proudly for this spiritual journey through the past when cats like Jimmy Guiffre would make dates under their own name that would sound nothing like their work for others but would take creativity to some place else. The original sax/piano duo adds a bassman to bring the color and the result is a grand uber hipster set of daddio jazz that should have included a download card... read more
Maja Jaku - Blessed & Bewitched
by Dee Dee McNeil, Musical Memoirs
"Blessed & Bewitched" is the new album by Vienna vocalist, Maja Jaku that reflects a very personal journey that began as a child, growing up immersed in the sounds of her father's jazz trumpet. Later, she pursued her love of music through studies with mentors at the Graz Conservatory. Her mentors were familiar iconic names like Mark Murphy, Sheila Jordan, Andy Bey and Jay Clayton.
The vocalist opens with an original by her drummer and... 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