Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Clarence Penn - Behind the Voice
by Dorothea Gängel, Jazz 'N' More (Switzerland)
4-STARS Clarence Penn is one of the most dynamic jazz drummers in the world. But that's not all: Thanks to his versatility and professionalism, he has led numerous bands in the past, composed music for films and commercials, and produced songs for a variety of pop and jazz musicians. His career began in New York in 1991. He toured with greats such as Betty Carter, Wynton Marsalis, Jacky Terrasson, Dizzy Gillespie, Dianne Reeves and Mike... read more
Bill Anschell - Improbable Solutions
by Dan McClenaghan, All About Jazz
4-STARS Most fans of Seattle-based pianist Bill Anschell will not see this one coming. His comfort zone on his own recordings has been as a mainstream acoustic jazz artist, on albums like Shifting Standards (2018), a piano trio affair, Rumbler (2017) and Figments (2011), a solo piano outing. All of these were released on Origin Records.
Anschell, who formerly worked as vocalist Nnenna Freelon's musical director, crafts his recordings... read more
Todd Bishop Pop Art 4 - 69 Annee Erotique: Music of Serge Gainsbourg
by Dan McClenaghan, All About Jazz
69 Annee Erotique gets extra credit for off-the-beaten-path-ness. It is a work celebrating the music of the late French pop songster Serge Gainsbourg (1928- 1991), by Portland Oregon-based Todd Bishop's Pop Art 4. Gainsbourg, whose name may not be person-on-the-street familiar in the United States, was a pop icon in France from the late-1950s to the 1980s, a musical renaissance man of sorts who delved into jazz, pop, reggae, soundtracks,... read more
Xose Miguélez - Ontology
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record
Ethnic, but not world jazz, inspired by his great aunt and some motifs that run through it all, this is solid sitting down, listening jazz that flows like the river in a Zen koan and never blows a false note. You don't have to be an egghead to love it, just someone that appreciates sax blown right starting with some blue prints on the artist's DNA. Tasty stuff made for grown up... read more
Bill Anschell - Rumbler
by Robert Rusch, Cadence
Because it opened with one of Monk's finest compositions; "Misterioso", I spent a good deal of time with BILL ANSCHELL's RUMBLER [Origin Records 82728]. Anschell not only offers up a fine arrangement here but he takes the composition head on and goes through various tempos, at one point turning it into a straight blues. Brian Monroney contributes some wonderful guitar work and saxophonist Richard Cole contributes strong playing - offering up... read more
Sam Yahel - Truth And Beauty
by Steve Greenlee, JazzTimes, September 2007
The trinity of organist Sam Yahel, saxophonist Joshua Redman and drummer Brian Blade has become an interesting association. The mission of the group shifts depending on who sits in the director's chair. And indeed that leadership role shifts. The group began as a cooperatively run unit known as Yaya3, but now it has at least two other incarnations. When Redman leads the trio it is known as the Joshua Redman Elastic Band. Here we have Sam Yahel... read more
Ray LeVier - Ray's Way
by Thomas Conrad, JazzTimes, May 2009
Lots of young musicians go out and get some established people to play on their debut recordings as leaders. Ray LeVier got strong ones: Joe Locke on vibes, either John Abercrombie or Mike Stern on guitar, Dave Binney on alto saxophone and Francois Moutin on bass. But very few debut albums create such tight, committed, synergistic ensembles. This band should go on tour. The only question would be which guitarist to bring. Abercrombie, who... read more
Richard Sussman - Live at Sweet Rhythm
by C. Michael Bailey, 100 Words On...
Pianist Richard Sussman's 1979 quintet recording Free Fall made quite a splash when re-issued in 2002. Sporting trumpeter Tom Harrell and saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi, the disc was a hard bop celebration. Break forward 30 years, this same band unites for a live recording at NYC's Sweet Rhythm in 2003 playing a couple of pieces from the earlier recording as well as Tadd Dameron's "Soultrane" and the standard "What's New." the result is a cross... read more
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