Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Matt Jorgensen + 451 - Another Morning
by Scott Albin, JazzTimes, July/August 2008
On the Seattle quartet's first recording since Hope in 2004, Matt jorgensen + 451 continues to explore a particular brand of jazz-rock fusion that is more subtle than your average pounding, thrashing, over-the-top variety. However, leader Jorgensen's fiery and excessively busy drumming often overwhelms and distracts from the group sound as well as the soloists. Mark Taylor plays mostly a sweet-toned alto, with a lyrical, unhurried and... read more
Jessica Williams - Freedom Trane
by , OregonMusicNews.com
How can two hands playing piano sound like John Coltrane playing saxophone. Jessica Williams' do. The number of albums she has recorded over a stellar thirty-five year career is astounding. Her last album Touch is in Dan McClenaghan's Top Ten for 2010 on AllAboutJazz ? AND Scott Yanow's Top Ten for 2010 in JazzTimes.
And who do we find her playing with? Portland musicians: drummer Mel Brown and bassist Dave Captein.
The album.... read more
Anthony Branker - Beauty Within
by Dan McClenaghan, All About Jazz
The "Rising Star" status isn't confined to fresh music school graduates. Dr. Anthony Branker, Educator - who, for twenty-seven years, was engaged in a big way with Princeton University's jazz program - has achieved a recent "rising star" tag as a composer. This after releasing seven top notch CDs for Origin Records, including the masterful Uppity (2013).
"Composer/Musical Director" is Branker's title on his recordings. He doesn't... read more
Nancy Kelly - Be Cool
by George W Harris, Jazz Weekly
Vocalist Nancy Kelly sings with clarity and street smarts on this mix of jazz treasures. She's teamed by a core of William Gorman/org, Jerry Weldomon/ts, Carmen Intorre Jr/dr and Dave Stryker/g while also bringing in some cameos by the venerable Houston Person/ts, Joe Carello/ss and Charlie Sigler/g. Kelly flexes her muscles with a smoking Houston on "Besame Mucho" and gets church with him and Gorman on "Let It Be Me". She's flexible on a nimble... read more
Bruce Williamson - Standard Transmission
by George Fendel, Jazz Society of Oregon
Deep in the shed, New York alto ace Williamson teams up with the admired veteran pianist Art Lande in a quartet setting mainly devoted to favorite melodies of long standing. Hence, the clever album title. The quartet is completed by Peter Barshay, bass, and Alan Hall, drums. Among many high moments here, try "Just You, Just Me." A guy named Monk turned it into "Evidence" quite some years ago, and Williamson, Lande and company bring out that... read more
Kelly Brand Nextet - The Door
by Neil Tesser, JazzIs
The latest and best album by Chicago pianist and composer Kelly Brand. Brand brings an understated beneficence to her music: when she backs other players, she offers dark full chords, while her own solos are thoughtful, uncluttered affairs ? good stories told simply and well. Her narratives have another advantage in that they are always backed by Kelly Sill, one of the finest bass players of his generation ? and also Kelly Brand's husband. The... read more
Hal Galper - O's Time
by Rotcod Zzaj, improvijazzation
Hal's piano is just fantastic on this great jazz trio CD, also featuring Jeff Johnson on bass and John Bishop's drum work. Crisp recording makes it a true pleasure to listen to, but it's the shining talent of all three players that makes their music work so well. The energy is palpable on pieces like the grand opener, "Like Sonny"... just loved this one... the bass solo is quite simply astounding! The group literally shines on tunes... read more
George Colligan & Theoretical Planets - Risky Notion
by Dave Rogers, WTJU - Richmond
Multi-instrumentalist Colligan pulled this current group together by recruiting two of his students at Portland State (Nicole Glover, tenor & soprano sax and Jon Lakey, bass) and other locals Joe Manis (tenor & alto sax and Tony Glausi, trumpet). Though most widely known as a pianist, Colligan is the drummer on this release - his first as a leader as a drummer. The saxes, often playing in harmony, literally fill the sonic space on most of these... read more
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