Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Gabriel Guerrero & Quantum - Equilibrio
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect
The inimitable pianist Gabriel Guerrero brings his Colombian heritage to these worldly 11 tracks that put him in the company of Seth Trachy, Will Slater, Felix Lecaros, Fung Chern Hwei and Guillermo Barrón.
The textured warmth of "Present Moment" opens the listen with Trachy' elegant sax aligning with Guerrero's playful piano playing, and "Ozpal" follows with Lecaros' animated drums amid the dancing keys of the frisky climate.
Halfway... read more
Hal Galper Trio - Invitation to Openness
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect
The pianist Hal Galper is joined by Tony Marino on bass and Billy Mintz behind the drum kit for these 8 live tracks performed at Big Twig way back in 2008.
"Embraceable You" opens the listen with Galper's warm and fluid keys alongside playful drumming and strategic bass, and "Rapunzel's Luncheonette" follows with a very dynamic and swift approach that emits a timeless jazz quality.
Halfway through, "Ambleside" has the trio working... read more
Ben Thomas Tango Project - The Hat with the Grin and the Chuckle
by Rudolf Radnai, avxforum.hu (Budapest)
Ben Thomas' Tango Project album has a particularly interesting and unusual sound, the title of which evokes the memory of a famous chef, and despite the bandoneon sound, the music has little to do with Argentine tango, but rather the imprints of Thomas's personality, layered polyrhythms, with inventive melodies and surprising... read more
Big Neighborhood - Neighbors
by Frank Rubilino, Cadence
White's guitar and Fagan's alto saxophone sing out with harmonious clarity on (2). Pushed by bassist Miller and drummer Parisot, the two forward
soloists of the Big Neighborhood quartet start with unison statements that spring into more adventurous territory only to return again to music that moves at an easy gait. Melodic chords ring out joyously from White's guitar; he takes an advanced position and then changes the tempo to glide into music... read more
Charlie Ballantine - East by Midwest
by Robert Silverstein, Roots Music Report
5-STARS Seattle-based Origin Records will blow the minds of electric guitar fans with their 2025 CD release of East By Midwest by recording artist and composer Charlie Ballantine. The nine-track, 40 minute album sounds quite scintillating in spaces and the guitarist does his best with effective backing by Quinn Sternberg (bass) and Dan Weiss (drums). With the artist having already released a number of albums under his name,... read more
Bobby Broom - Upper West Side Story
by Mark Keresman, Jazz Inside NY
The business of America is business, and part of that business as far as music is concerned is the tribute album. The ?tribute? concept can give prospective listeners a handle on the artist and/or a particular album?sometimes the concept can be a little shaky (a performer interpreting the songs interpreted by another interpreter, for example) or can be rock-solid and spot-on. Take guitarist Bobby Broom?his previous platter Wonderful,... read more
Phil Kelly & The SW Santa Ana Winds - My Museum
by Harvey Siders, JazzTimes, September 2007
In 2003 a cross-pollination of Pacific Northwest and L.A. jazz communities resulted in Kelly's first Origin album, Convergence Zone. It happened again in '06, leading to this masterpiece. No rehearsal time. As Kelly explained, "It was straight gonzo." Thanks to the growing comfort level, the guys simply devoured the charts. "Jeannine," "Daydream" and "Zip Code 2005" reveal Kelly's expertise with taut clusters. "It's a Lazy Afternoon" (in... read more
speak - Speak
by Jay Collins, Cadence
Too often, the Jazz press laments the lack of mentorship in Jazz, with too many musicians coming right out of the conservatory without continuing oversight from more seasoned musicians. While the youngish 40 year old Cuong Vu might seem an unlikely "Jazz Elder," various playing experiences with the likes of many cutting-edge New York City groups, as well as big names like Pat Metheny or Laurie Anderson, seem to have prepared him for this course.... read more
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