Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Kelly Brand Nextet - The Door
by Brad Walseth, www.jazzchicago.net
It sometimes astounds me, when I hear local musicians whose talent is world class, and yet they are perhaps not very well known outside the boundaries of Chicago, although they should be. Case in point is pianist/composer Kelly Brand, who is known to the jazz fans of Chicago, but deserves a much wider audience based on her stellar playing and composition skills. If there is any justice in the world, her new nextet recording "The Door" will open... read more
Peter Epstein and Idée Fixe - Abstract Realism
by Jonathon Goldman, JazzTimes
Let me first preface this review by saying that whenever I hear the word ?free jazz' I always cringe. Not that I have anything against free jazz per se ? there are some groups that do it extremely well thinking back to Ornette Coleman, Don Cherry and Steve Lacy to more recent excursions by Dave Douglas, Greg Osby and David Binney. And then there are other groups that, well, I would be hard pressed to classify as music.
The trick is trying to... read more
Kelly Sill / Jim McNeely / Joel Spencer - Boneyard
by Adam Greenberg, All Music Guide
An excellent trio session from pianist Jim McNeely, bassist Kelly Sill, and drummer Joel Spencer. The Chicago-based trio has been collaborating in various forms for years, and the tightness of the ensemble is apparent in the interplay between musicians here. McNeely takes the lead for much of the album (being the pianist, of course), and shows off some noteworthy chops on standards like "In Your Own Sweet Way" and originals (such as the... read more
Various Artists - The Piano: The Best of Seattle Jazz
by Adam Greenburg, All Music Guide
Stemming from a donation drive for a local jazz club, this compilation deals out an overview of some of the best jazz Seattle has to offer. While the title alludes to the piano as a centerpiece, the album doesn't focus so strongly on it. Every track save one includes an outstanding pianist (Marc Seales, John Hansen, and Dave Peck are among the brightest of the bunch), but they're often overshadowed by some incredible horn players, vocalists, and... read more
Bobby Broom - Song And Dance
by Mark F. Turner, All About Jazz
Most everyone has a favorite tune: A song that lingers in memory and takes you back to another time and place. For many years jazz musicians have transformed popular songs into instrumental pieces such as John Coltrane's version of the Rodgers and Hammerstein hit "My Favorite Things." There is magic in taking something familiar and transforming it into something new, as Chicago guitarist Bobby Broom proves once again on his new release Song and... read more
Dave Glenn - National Pastime
by George Fendel, Jazz Society of Oregon
One month of watching 18 baseball games in six cities created the inspiration for Dave Glenn to write eight pieces for this sextet. The title tune depicts the feeling of anticipation on entering a stadium: the smell of beer and hot dogs, etc. Other tunes pay tribute to baseball heroes like Roberto Clemente or Hank Aaron, while still others express, as ABC used to say, the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. Dave Scott's trumpet and Rich... read more
Josh Nelson - The Sky Remains
by Lynn Rene Bayley, The Art Music Lounge
Pianist and composer Josh Nelson's new album, The Sky Remains, due for release September 15, is a mosaic of his impressions of his home town, Los Angeles. Live performances of the music from this album feature multimedia film footage to enhance the audience's experience.
More often than not, programmatic music designed to depict a specific location or event fall flat for those whose experience does not include those places or images. In... read more
Jim Norton Collective - Time Remembered: Compositions of Bill Evans
by Pierre Giroux, Audiophile Audition
Often overlooked by his brilliant pianistic skills, Bill Evans' efforts as a composer were impressive although they were more often harmonically intriguing, rather than accessible. Jim Norton has brought his impressive arranging skills to bear on a diverse selection of Evans material to create a sound pallet that delights the ear in his release Time Remembered: Compositions Of Bill Evans.
Among the compositions that Norton and the band have... read more
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