Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Brent Jensen w/ Bill Anschell, Jeff Johnson, John Bishop - One More Mile
by Scott Albin, JazzTimes
For his fifth Origin CD, Idaho-based Brent Jensen parts ways with his alto sax to perform exclusively on the soprano, and proves to be just as proficient and engaging on the straight horn. With the inspired support of his fellow Origin recording artists from Seattle?the trio of pianist Bill Anschell, bassist Jeff Johnson and drummer (and label founder) John Bishop?the gifted Jensen impresses throughout a wide-ranging set of tunes.
The loping... read more
Nick Finzer - The Chase
by Bruce Lindsay, All About Jazz
The trombone's gone through a few good times and a few bad times as a front-line jazz instrument. Thankfully, for all lovers of this particular horn, these times are good times. Nick Finzer is one of the players responsible, a trombonist and writer with flair and variety. The Chase, his second album, helps to ensure that the good times will stick around.
Finzer's a member of Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox, racking up a few million You... read more
Laurie Antonioli - Songs of Shadow, Songs of Light
by Brent Black, Critical Jazz
An inspired recording of tremendous passion and depth that takes the Joni Mitchell road less traveled. The immediate success of Songs of Shadow, Songs of Light could be linked to the less than predictable greatest hits collection other contemporaries are quick to offer up. Antonioli's band is first rate, A-list players such as bassist John Shifflett and a cameo from the great Theo Bleckmann opening the release with "People's Parties."... 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
Tom Collier - Across the Bridge
by Steve Greenlee, JazzTimes
Tom Collier's new album, Across the Bridge, is an exhilarating collection of modern jazz-rock originals "on the other side of the West Seattle Bridge." Collier, who has taught percussion studies at the University of Washington since 1980 and is primarily a vibraphonist, recruited two of today's best genre-bending guitarists, Larry Coryell and Bill Frisell, to help make this music. The personnel switches up from track to... read more
Anthony Branker & Imagine - Songs My Mom Liked
by George W Harris, Jazz Weekly
Composer and Arranger Anthony Branker puts together a free thinking team of Donny McCaslin/ts-ss, Philip Dizack/tp, Fabian Almazan/p, Linda May Han O h/b, Rudy Royston/dr, Pete McCann/g and Aubrey Johnson/voc for a collection of originals dedicated to his mother and her battle with dementia.
The atmospheres range from uptempo pieces like "Praise" that feature McCaslin in a shrieking mood to an elegiac "Sketches of Selim" with a lovely aria... read more
Chris Walden Big Band - Full-On!
by Jim Dupuis, !Earshot (Canada)
TOP TEN RECORDS OF 2014 Thankfully there are still some big bands out there and Walden has put together a bunch of fine musicians to play his varied arrangements. The band can jump from the movieish sounding "Bailout" to pop and country covers of Stevie Wonder and Hank Williams. Like the 1940's this big band has a rotating cast of vocalists that nicely fit their songs. Vocalists include Carol Welsman, who sings "Hey Good... read more
John Stowell - Solitary Tales
by Ric Bang, The Davis Enterprise
Guitarist John Stowell lives and works in and around Portland, Ore. He may not be well known to the general public, but he's a "musician's musician" to name guitarists and those who know the music world well. Stowell also is a famous clinician who conducts classes throughout the United States and Canada.
This solo guitar album is his newest release on Origin; it's true gem for those who enjoy the instrument.
As it happens, Mike Doolin, one of... read more
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