Origin Records Reviews

Mamutrio - Primal Existence
by George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly

The team of Lieven Cambre'/as, Piet Verbist/b and Jesse Dockx/dr team up for some fun bop and beyond. Cambre' has a sweet as honey tone, gloriously sighing to Verbist's resonant bass on "In Peace with Gravity" and relaxing on the lovely "Ballast". His vibrato gets lonely while Dockx gets frisky on "For Less Than Nothing" and the team snaps joyfully on "My Love You." Dockx brushes up on the soft shoe "To Remember" and delivers a hip grove with... read more

Phil Kelly - Convergence Zone
by Stephen Fratallone, Jazz Connection

Composer and arranger Phil Kelly has written volumes of stuff during the past 40 years for recording artists, bands, symphony pops, film, television, and commercials and now at age 65, he has finally gotten around to write some music for himself. The fruit of his labors are on his debut CD for Origin Records, Convergence Zone: Phil Kelly And The NW Prevailing Winds.

Convergence Zone is an apt title for this project. A "convergence zone" is... read more

May Okita - Art of Life
by Dave Rogers, WTJU

This is vocalist May Okita's first release. She is accompanied by Josh Nelson (piano) moved to Los Angeles in 2013 to study clinical psychology and added voice studying with numerous performers, including Josh Nelson who plays piano on this disc. Larry Koonse (guitar) also plays on several songs. The songs range from Irving Berlin's "Let's Face The Music And Dance" and Cole Porter's "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye" to Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now"... read more

Oscar Hernández & Alma Libre - The Art of Latin Jazz
by Raul da Gama, Latin Jazz Network

This music suggests that the robust health for one of the longest and most enduring musical influences in Jazz is in good hands. The good 'doctor' in charge of the check-up is none other than the celebrated composer, arranger and producer Oscar Hernández whose other full time job is as pianist of the equally celebrated Spanish Harlem Orchestra. As always, Oscar Hernández brings an elegant swing to the ten pieces of music on The Art of... read more

Jessica Williams - With Love
by Martin Z. Kasdan Jr., Louisville Music News

Jessica Williams has produced an album of intimate solo piano pieces, rendered with elegance and emotion. There's a backstory here, that Ms. Williams suffered a lumbar spine collapse, followed by lengthy and extensive medical procedures. Her self-penned liner notes suggest that the nonpyrotechnical approach was a result of the spine issues, but had she made no mention of her problem, the album would still be a testament to a musical vision of... read more

Michael Waldrop - Origin Suite
by C. Michael Bailey, All About Jazz

4-STARS Percussionist and big band leader Michael Waldrop has had a very successful relationship with composer Dr. Jack Cooper, late of the University of Memphis, Berlin, and parts unknown. Waldrop attended the University of Memphis for his master's degree (helming Cooper's Jazz Orchestra of the Delta) before completing his doctorate at the University of North Texas. Their previous big band collaboration, Time Within Itself... read more

John McLean - Better Angels
by John Barron, All About Jazz.com

Guitarist/composer John McLean is an emerging musical voice for the 21st century. Steeped in tradition and propelled by contemporary influences, the Chicago-based musician sculpts an uncanny representation of an ever-widening American musical landscape. Better Angels, McLean's second release as a leader, is a stunning collection of original compositions and standards, featuring McLean's blistering guitar and his unconventional ensemble comprised... read more

Bobby Broom - Song And Dance
by RBSProds "RBS", Amazon.com

Five BLAZING Stars!! Master guitarist Bobby Broom has cranked up a winner of a guitar trio recording. With longtime Broom associates bassist Dennis Carroll and his supple stylings and Kobie Watkins' muscular, inventive drumming, this is a tight musical trio that knows where it's going and there is lots of musical ESP between the players. There are some marvelous moments awaiting the listener on this CD. With song choices like the Beatles "Can't... read more

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