Origin Records Reviews



Jon Alberts / Jeff Johnson / Tad Britton - Apothecary
by Elliott Simon, All About Jazz

This Apothecary is filled with new medicine in old bottles as this very experienced trio presents thoughtful fresh takes on tunes they have more than likely played as a group for over 20 years. Monk's "Bemsha Swing" and "Mysterioso" retain their pianistic quirks but are opened up with an unhurried approach while "Nardis" is given a similar savoring. Dave Brubeck's "In Your Own Sweet Way" is angularized, Bill Evans' "Turn Out the Stars" keeps the... read more

Hal Galper & the Youngbloods - Live at the Cota Jazz Festival
by Raul da Gama, JazzdaGama

It should come as no surprise that Hal Galper would be an enormously attractive mentor to younger musicians. Indeed, this is exactly what this live performance is made of: sparks that are ignited by the pianist, with the emerging fire stoked by a group of new-generation musicians comprising alto saxophonist Nathan Bellott, bassist Dean Torrey and the percussion colourist David Frazier. This repertoire is fashioned from old and relatively newer... read more

Cathy Segal-Garcia & Phillip Strange - Live in Japan
by C. Michael Bailey, All About Jazz

Smart and accomplished, West Coast vocalist Cathy Segal-Garcia releases her 15th recording, Live In Japan, on the heels of her well-received Social Anthems, Volume 1 (Origin Records, 2021). Live In Japan is a retrospective December 1992 performance that pairs the singer with her frequent collaborator, pianist Phillip Strange. Recorded in Osaka during the holidays, Segal-Garcia sprinkles her two generous sets with enough seasonal music to qualify... 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

Amit Friedman - Unconditional Love
by Yotam Ziv, Columbus Music Magazine (Israel)

Apparently, the first one to steer and use the combination of the words ′′ the whole is bigger than all its parts ′′ was Aristotle. This phrase has many interpretations in different fields, but in my eyes, this is the essence of a good jazz composition. Mostly because creative and inspiring musicians make their friends sound better.

A week ago I received the new (yes, really a disc) of the saxophonist and composer Amit Friedman,... read more

John Stowell - Solitary Tales
by George Fendel, Jazzscene, April 2009

Anyone who has witnessed a performance by master guitarist John Stowell, knows that he is far from your everyday guitarist. From the nearly vertical position of the guitar (not unlike the position of a cello) to the artist's expression and his closed eyes, Stowell is nearly one with the guitar. On this solo expedition, he plays both acoustic and electric guitars in the Portland, Oregon living room of his luthier, Mike Doolin. Stowell plays five... read more

Karrin Allyson - A Kiss for Brazil
by Eg'dio Leitão, Música Brasileira

A Kiss for Brazil is not Karrin Allyson's first incursion into Brazilian music. I would not need to list her previous albums here to convince you she truly has an affinity for the Brazilian songbook.

Karrin Allyson (1962, Great Bend, Kansas) does not shy away from singing in Portuguese or choosing a less obvious repertoire from the Brazilian songbook. Her 1999 From Paris to Rio album first caught my attention. The CD had several Bossa Nova... 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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