Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Deep Blue Organ Trio - Wonderful!
by Bob Simpson, Musicisbad.com
By far the best jazz album of the year, the Deep Blue Organ Trio pays tribute to Stevie Wonder with, Wonderful! (Origin Records). A jazz perspective on the soul-pop legend, this is no smooth elevator jazz record. Its organ filled brilliance and over all maturity is a radiant homage done very tastefully. It would be absurd to even consider another Wonder tribute to take place when this one takes the cake. The cuts such as "Tell Me Something Good"... 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
Scenes - Variable Clouds: Live at the Earshot Jazz Festival
by Paul Rauch, All About Jazz
4-STARS - Scenes' first album dates back to 2001, but the origins of the band dates back to the early 1990s, when saxophonist Rick Mandyck, bassist Jeff Johnson and drummer John Bishop initiated a trio gig. On occasion guitarist John Stowell would drop in if he was off the road and in Seattle. The band that began as a trio reverted back to that format after that inaugural recording, this time Stowell in tow as Mandyck slipped into a... read more
Scenes - Along the Way
by Bill Bennett, All About Jazz
The scenes along the way here are generally bucolic ones, awash with that distinctive just after the sundown light celebrated by photographers. It's a contemplative journey?"no hurry, no worry," as the clich� goes. The tempos are relaxed, the timbres unfailingly warm. Subtlety is the key word. This amiable, polished music never clamors for your attention; however, a little deep listening will yield many aural delights.
Guitarist John... read more
John Gross / Billy Mintz - Beautiful You
by Dan McClenaghan, All About Jazz
Beautiful You, featuring tenor saxophonist John Gross and drummer Billy Mintz, was recorded live at the Tugboat Brew Pub in Portland, Oregon, sound quality excellent. Remember just a few years back, in vinyl days, when live recordings meant murky sounds, bad mixes and distracting crowd noise. Well, not on this one. This live duo outing has a ringing, studio-quality sound.
Saxophonist Gross has worked with the Stan Kenton Band, Toshiko... read more
Pharez Whitted - For the People
by Frank Alkyer, DownBeat Magazine
EDITOR'S PICK - DECEMBER 2012
On For The People, Chicago-based trumpeter Pharez Whitted digs into the hard-bop bag and pulls out an 11-song set that?s perfect for a weekend chill or a serious road trip. The unison lines he plays with guitarist Bobby Broom on tunes like ?Watusi Boogaloo? are infectious. ?If They Could Only See? delivers a sweet groove. But don?t think this is light listening. ?Freedom Song? packs a punch fueled... read more
Bongwool Lee - My Singing Fingers
by Paul Rauch, All About Jazz
4-STARS Much has been written about the different creative processes engaged between classical and jazz musicians, more specifically, as applied to the collective worlds of jazz and classical piano. New York based pianist Bongwool Lee has an intimate relationship with these perceived differences. Born and raised in Seoul, Korea, she was exposed by her parents to a variety of music at a very early age, winning her country's acclaimed... read more
Anthony Branker & Ascent - Spirit Songs
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect
The inimitable composer and director Anthony Branker enlists some excellent musicians for this 9th album on the Origin label that is actually a reissue of his 2006 debut for Sons Of Sound Records.
The 7 minutes of "Chant For Peace Eternal" opens the listen with Jonny King's fluid piano and flowing sax from Ralph Bowen and Antonio Hart for the graceful jazz presence, and "Parris In April" follows with a dreamy demeanor that uses John... read more
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