Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Jessica Williams - Freedom Trane
by Doug Ramsey, Rifftides
The pianist has concentrated on solo performance lately but returns to the trio format by way of this paean to John Coltrane. Accompanied by bassist Dave Captein and drummer Mel Brown, Williams explores four pieces by Coltrane and four of her own that pay tribute to the man she has long acknowledged as a major musical and spiritual inspiration. In her notes, she calls him "my light through the darkness." There is no darkness in the title tune,... read more
John Bishop - Nothing If Not Something
by Tom Morgan, Percussive Notes
This recording is the result of an over ten-year association between drummer John Bishop, bassist Jeff Johnson and saxophonist Rick Mandyck. This piano-less trio, while somewhat reminiscent of Elvin Jones' groups, has developed an original sound and approach. Playing without a harmonic instrument requires a high level of communication and a strong harmonic foundation that is aptly provided by Johnson. His big, rich sound is always secure and... read more
Matt Otto - Umbra
by Russell Perry, WTJU
Kansas City-rooted quintet formed around the tenor of Matt Otto performs a set of nine originals with heart. Four of the tunes are presented as a tenor - bass - drums trio (the leader plus Jeff Harshbarger and John Kizilarmut) begging positive comparison to Sonny Rollins landmark recordings from the 50s and 60s as Otto mines the spare format for maximum emotion. Not to take anything away from the other tunes and the other players, but... read more
John Stowell | Michael Zilber - Live Beauty
by George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly
Cool toned guitarist John Stowell teams up with saxist Michael Zilber and fronts a quartet along with John Shifflett/b and Jason Lewis/dr for a sophisticated set caught at the California Jazz Conservatory in Berkeley, CA back in 2012. Except for the free form and flighty duet between the two on the take of "My Funny Valentine" the band sticks to sophisticated originals which stretch out between 7-12 minutes.
The band has a fragrance similar... read more
Scott Reeves - Portraits and Places
by George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly
Scott Reeves conducts an impressive big band and even plays his flugelhorn on this collection of original compositions. The music is varied and intelligent, with a modal 6/8 "The Soulful Mr. Williams" including the leader soloing through the blues. The horn sections sizzle, snap and pop, swaggering on "Last Call" and bopping through "3 'n 2" along with Tim Armacost's tenor sax and Bill Mobley's trumpet on the latter.
Guest star Steve Wilson... read more
Greg Yasinitsky - YAZZ Band: New Normal
by Lance Liddle, Bebop Spoken Here
Back in 2018 I was impressed by Yasinitsky's recording - Yazz Band - in fact it was one of my Big Band CDs of the Year. After first listen, this one could also be in with a shout although, despite there being 16 names listed, it is actually a collective grouping with the various units ranging from 7 - 9 pieces and, truth to tell, due to the pandemic some weren't even there at all but recorded their part at home which, in some cases was Los... read more
Marcos Varela - San Ygnacio
by Britt Robson, JazzTimes
Houston keeps churning out stellar jazz artists. One of the latest, and brightest, is bassist Marcos Varela, who is talented enough to have been mentored by Ron Carter and employed by Billy Hart and Clifton Anderson during his dozen years in New York, smart enough to enlist drummer Hart, trombonist Anderson and pianist George Cables to play on San Ygnacio, and confident enough to forge his own identity on this remarkable debut.
Hart and... read more
John Bishop with Jeff Johnson, Rick Mandyck, John Stowell - Scenes
by Doug Ramsey, Rifftides
I've been meaning for some time to call your attention to this stimulating cooperative venture recorded in 2001. Hearing bassist Johnson and guitarist Stowell in separate appearances at the recent Portland Jazz Festival nudged me. They meld beautifully with saxophonist Ricky Mandyck and drummer John Bishop in a balanced program that draws on music by Jerome Kern, Wayne Shorter, John Scofield and Tom Harrell, among others. Stowell's solo on McCoy... read more
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