Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Anthony Branker - Beauty Within
by KARL ACKERMANN, All About Jazz
The two aneurysms that forced composer and musical director Anthony Branker to give up the trumpet in 1999 have done nothing to stem the tide of thoughtful and progressive music that he consistently delivers. Downsizing from his "Word Play" ensemble, Branker guides a quintet of new and long-time colleagues on Beauty Within.
A regular Branker collaborator, saxophonist Ralph Bowen joins a consummate session man in guitarist Pete McCann who... read more
Matt Jorgensen +451 - Hope
by C. Michael Bailey, All About Jazz
Another drummer hanging out in the great Northwest is Matt Jorgensen. He and his band, 451, have previously released several recordings. Jorgensen borrows Mark Taylor from Steve Korn and features Korn's other saxophonist, Rob Davis on several cuts. Jorgensen employs a double saxophone front for the opening of this disc, "Slinky," giving the band a big muscular sound that is propelled by Ryan Burn's Fender Rhodes. The band hits a bull's eye with... read more
Mimi Fox - Standards
by Jack Bowers, All About Jazz
We can wrap this one up in short order. Mimi Fox is a terrific guitarist who possesses an immaculate touch and electrifying awareness, who swings hard and whose love for the music she plays is obvious. There's no doubt about that. And Standards is a marvelously recorded sample of her superb artistry. There's no doubt about that either.
On the other hand (he sighs), there is one false note, on tracks 1 and 6 ("All Blues," "Footprints"), both... read more
Shawn Purcell - 180
by George W Harris, Jazz Weekly
Tensile toned guitarist Shawn Purcell creates a sophisticated organ combo with Pat Bianchi/B3, Jason Tiemann/dr and a couple guests that sounds like a summit meeting between the sophisticatedly bopping Pat Martino and explorative Larry Young. The advanced harmonics and pulses get intricate on the clever "Cat and Mouse" while Tiemann rumbles around in the magma on "180". There's fire in the frets on "Search and Destroy" and the team gets chunky... read more
Hugo Fernandez New Grounds Quartet - Ozean
by Rick Anderson, CD Hotlist
The line between straight-ahead jazz and fusion (or, heaven help us, "smooth jazz") can be fuzzy and the borderland it defines can be treacherous: tread carefully and you can create exciting and forward-thinking music; get careless and you might slip into a puddle of schlock. On his new album, guitarist Hugo Fernandez offers a master class in negotiating this difficulty: from his tone to his chord progressions, he delivers lush textures and... read more
Deardorf / Peterson Group - Portal
by Paul de Barros, The Seattle Times
Bassist Chuck Deardorf has been a yeoman on the Seattle jazz scene for more than 25 years.
His muscular sound and Gibraltar-like time have been heard locally behind everyone from Abbey Lincoln and Chet Baker to Art Farmer and Mark Murphy. After spending a career in the shadows, Deardorf finally has stepped into the spotlight with an album under his own name.
Well, half-under, anyway. Ever the support player, Deardorf shares leadership... read more
Robby Ameen - Diluvio
by Jack Bowers, All About Jazz
It's a given that wherever Grammy-winning drummer Robby Ameen goes, irrepressible rhythm is sure to follow. Diluvio, Ameen's third album as leader of his own ensemble, is clearly no exception to the rule. Ameen's half-dozen compositions are intrepid and lively, and even Gerry Mulligan's "Line for Lyons" and John Coltrane's "Impressions," which seal the album, are given bright rhythmic makeovers in keeping with the leader's metrical frame of... read more
Tad Britton - Black Hills
by Grego Applegate Edwards, Cadence
Black Hills, by Tad Britton includes a few originals, and a number of Pop classics not often, if ever, covered by a Jazz conflagration and, oh yes, a couple of Jazz numbers by classic writers. Bassist Jeff Johnson is hip, agile, and a great soloist. Tadd plays drums like he was born to play in a piano trio - he's busy enough to pull his weight in the threesome and can really play great time. Pianist Marc Seales has a superior linear sense and,... read more
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