Wander into the parking lot of a high school marching band field tournament, through a labyrinth school buses and picnic tables, into throngs of young musicians?teenagers in small packs cruising on foot, gossiping, flirting, maybe throwing a football around as a cold November dusk settles in?and there always seems to be a backdrop of percussion, impromptu practice sessions, the marimbas and the vibraphones ringing out. It's a sound that carries... read more
Piano legend Hal Galper shows his post bop chops in high quality form at this gig in Edmonton, Canada with his team of Jeff Johnson/b and John Bishop/dr. The Getz/Baker alumnus shows pristine and lovely work on the lyrical "Artist" while digging deep with the mates on the modal "Scufflin'". The three form a hip groove on "Israel" with Johnson giving thoughtful intros to the scrambling "Cubist" and slapping the sucker on the bluesy "Scene West"... read more
The notion of forming a group with the intention of playing completely improvised music is something that Las Vegas trumpeter Walt Blanton says has always fascinated him. While the concept of performing free-form jazz is nothing new, it is a bold move for an artist, like Blanton, not usually associated with the genre.
After experimenting with sounds and concepts for about a year, Blanton, along with pianist Tony Branco and drummer John... read more
Pianist and keyboardist Geoff Stradling puts together a big band for his crisp and warm arrangements of mostly originals, almost all with an alluring Latin feel. The rhythm section of drums, congas, bongos, shakers and you name it create a percolating undercurrent for the whole affair. Joe DeLeon's timbales sizzle on the festive "Habanero" and a read of "Poinciana" hums to Tom Luer's alto. The sax section wails with soprano saxist Kirsten Edkins... read more
Jazz songs, originals, with the wit and charm of Joni Mitchell and the pop precision of Sting.... read more
Seattle-based trumpeter Chad McCullough certainly isn't letting any dust settle on his horn, or on his equipment in the recording studio, following up his sophomore effort, The Sky Cries (Origin Records, 2010), with his third CD for Seattle's Origin Records, Imaginary Sketches.
McCullough's debut, Dark Wood, Dark Water (Origin Records, 2009), had a straight-ahead, joy of playing jazz atmosphere. His The Sky Cries (Origin Records, 2010)... read more
The recordings of the album are taken from a live performance at the Israel Museum, Jerusalem on June 27, 2023. With "Persistence Of Memory" the sextet around woodwind player Alon Farber opens. The Ensemble Hagiga and guest Dave Douglas are characterized by an impressive brass power, consisting of a trumpeter, a trombonist, a soprano and alto saxophonist and a tenor saxophonist or clarinetist. In tutti they almost sound like a small big band. At... read more
First album by a pianist whose CV starts off with increasingly long lists of film, tv, and commercial work (Pampers, Swatch, Purina -- just a few that strike my fancy), then trails off into a couple of dozen album appearances (Alphonse Mouzon, Jane's Addiction). Nothing there prepares you for this album, an easy swinging concoction with Rick Keller's saxes adding warmth and a bit of edge, nicely seasoned with a bit of Latin percussion.... read more
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.
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