Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Jordan VanHemert - Deep in the Soil
by George W Harris, Jazz Weekly
Alto saxist Jordan VanHemert bops hard with a team of Terell Stafford/tp, Michel Dease/tb, Helen Sung/p, Rodney Whitaker/b and Lewis Nash/dr on his fun and festive release. Van Hemert's alto is confident and assertive, not unlike Cannonball Adderley, as on the swaggering gospel grooved "Hard Times" that has him going toe to toe with Stafford, and bouncing like ESP era Miles on "Call To Order". The alto goes bel canto, on "Everything Changes,... read more
Nnenna Freelon - Time Traveler
by Frank Alkyer, DownBeat (Editor's Pick)
Vocalist Nnenna Freelon has always had a powerful instrument, but rarely, if ever, has she employed that voice in such an intimate way. Freelon recorded Time Traveler following the loss of her husband, Phil, an accomplished architect who led the design of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture. On Time Traveler, the Grammy-winner wastes no time in grabbing your attention and pulling you in close. Freelon takes us... read more
Brittany Anjou - Enamigo Reciprokataj
by Elzy Kolb, Hot House Jazz Guide (NYC)
Pianist Brittany Anjou divides her time between her Brooklyn home and a long-term gig in Kuwait, where she teaches jazz theory and more to kids and adults. "The students are hungry for jazz, and want to understand theory. Any time I travel and play abroad, people are really listening, it's like you're valued more there," she says. "In Kuwait, the people are focused on the melody. At house concerts, people care in a different way" than in other... read more
Dan Dean - Songs Without Words
by Raul da Gama, JazzdaGama
After years of playing and producing music for musicians such as vibraphonist Tom Collier, the virtuoso bassist - and it turns out one with rather operatic intentions - and master of the art of whistling as well Dan Dean steps out and into his own studio to record quite magical versions of chorales, arias and concertos without nothing but his velvet tenor, his trusted bass and the art of whistling - all on the disc entitled Songs without... read more
Nancy Kelly - Be Cool
by Scott Yanow, L.A. Jazz Scene
Nancy Kelly, who recorded her debut album in 1987, recently released her seventh recording, Be Cool. She has a strong and appealing voice, swings even when sticking close to the lyrics of a song, and is not afraid to stretch herself.
Be Cool is Nancy Kelly's second recording with an organist and her first with William Gorman whose powerful and at time dominant playing is a throwback to Wild Bill Davis along with the 1960s giants... read more
Tom Luer - Project Popular
by Adam Greenberg, All Music
Cross-pollination between jazz and pop music has become something of a mini-trend in the last few years, ranging from interesting fusions and covers on smaller labels up to a high-exposure Grammy for Herbie Hancock's renditions of Joni Mitchell songs. In the same vein, Los Angeles-based sax player Tom Luer reworks a handful of major hits into easygoing West Coast modern jazz on Project Popular. This is light, airy music fresh from the cafes more... read more
Roxy Coss - Restless Idealism
by Josef Woodard, Downbeat
On her second album - following long on the heels of her 2010 self-released debut, Roxy Coss comes across as a fairly full-formed talent. As a player, on tenor and soprano saxophones, she possesses a poise and maturity beyond her years. She's also a composer of diverse instincts and a strong bandleader (with impressive bandmates in tow, including trumpeter Jeremy Pelt, nimble guitarist Alex Wintz and versatile pianist Chris Pattishall, with... read more
Tim Davies Big Band - The Expensive Train Set
by Ric Bang, Jazz Scan
The world is full of terrific jazz drummers, but few are also great composers, arrangers, orchestrators and leaders. Tim Davies fits that bill, and he's also a Grammy Award winner. The Australian-born artist formed his first band in Melbourne in 1998, and moved to the United States shortly thereafter. From 2000 onward, his big bands have been stationed in Los Angeles, where he released two album.
Why only two? He's too busy composing,... read more
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