Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Carlos Vega - Bird's Ticket
by Michael Jackson, Downbeat Magazine
****
Miami-born Vega, assistant professor at Florida A&M University, returned to Chicago to record this, his first leader release. Vega had been active on Chicago's lively Latin jazz scene, notably with the cracking Chicago Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble during his years as a graduate student in the early aughts. He rejoins CALJE co-leader Victor Garcia for a sizzling and sophisticated set of 10 Vega originals.
Bass ace Josh Ramos anchors... read more
John Stowell - Solitary Tales
by Mike Joyce, JazzTimes
Guitarist John Stowell went straight to the source when choosing a setting for his latest solo release - the home of Portland, Ore.-based luthier Mike Doolin. Using a pair of Doolin guitars - a nylon acoustic-electric and an electric tuned a major-third lower - Stowell recorded "Solitary Tales" live in front of a small, appreciative audience.
Concert recordings don't get more intimate than this, and Stowell's thoughtful approach to pieces... read more
Les DeMerle - Hittin' The Blue Notes, Vol. 1
by Adam Greenburg, All Music Guide
Harry James band alum Les DeMerle comes out here with his first album since moving into the unknown northern Florida jazz scene. A number of academic players from the Jacksonville region join him for the recording, as does his wife Bonnie on vocals. The album is essentially a tribute to the old Blue Note catalog, culling its songs from the label's archives of primarily soul-jazz and hard bop. The album opens up on a bouncy version of "Just... read more
Chuck Deardorf - Transparence
by George Fendel, Jazz Society of Oregon
A veteran of countless recording dates, Deardord has been a Rock of Gibralter on the Seattle jazz map for decades. On this intriguing recording, he "mixes and matches" various tunes with different combinations of piano, guitar, drums, tenor and alto sax, percussionists and other participants. A few of the best known names, none of which appear on all tunes, are Bill Mays, piano, Bruce Forman, guitar, and Gary Hobbs, drums. Mays is always a... read more
Lorin Cohen - Home
by Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune
Until three years ago, when he moved to New York, bassist Lorin Cohen was ubiquitous in Chicago, playing in uncounted bands and far-flung musical styles.
He returned here briefly over the weekend in the best way possible, celebrating the release of his first album as bandleader, "Home," the Green Mill packed on Friday night with his family, friends and even a few people he didn't know.
There was a palpable sense of return and reunion in... read more
Scott Neumann Neu3 Trio - Blessed
by Jim Macnie, Tone Publications
Sometimes success is a by product of simple chemistry. The members of drummer Scott�Neumann's Neu3 Trio don't boast the largest profiles in jazz. Neither do they arrive with lofty concepts about the way the music should change. Indeed, Blessed makes its mark by betting the farm on two of jazz's bedrock elements: grace and rigor. Neumann�enlists saxophonist Michael Blake and bassist Mark Helias for this date, and the loose-limbed trio... read more
Mike Pope - The Parts You Keep
by Dee Dee McNeil, Making A Scene
Geoffrey Keezer's piano introduction is stunning on an original composition by Mike Pope called "Misgivings." This tune was so captivating that I had to play it twice before I could go forward with reviewing this album. It's not only his piano elegance and delivery, but the melodic flow of this composition and the unexpected movement of this piece that hypnotizes me. Mike Pope's electric bass is melodic, playing his own song, almost like a... read more
Roxy Coss - Restless Idealism
by Chris Spector, Midwest Review
The latest in a long time of jazzy, saxy ladies, Coss brings the heat on this original set of originals. A long time sidekick of Jeremy Pelt, he returns the favor by being all over this date, blending right in with her regular band. Certainly a right on combination of restless and ideal, this date steams along mightily, not letting any grass grow under it's feet as it merrily takes you from here to sonically there with loads of tasty stops in... read more
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