Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Geof Bradfield - melba!
by Alex Marianyi, NextBop
Kansas City Child. Central Avenue. Dizzy Gillespie. Randy Weston. Detroit / Kingston. Homecoming. This is the story of Melba Liston's life as told by Chicago-based saxophonist and composer Geof Bradfield. Liston's is a story not often told, but she was an extremely unique trombonist and composer with a special gift for bringing out the best in those she collaborated with. Bradfield framed this suite of music, as presented on his album Melba!,... read more
Eric Jacobson - Heading Home
by Mark Griffith, Modern Drummer
Trumpeter Eric Jacobson has put together a really good bunch of original tunes and killer band for his new record, Heading Home. Jacobson is a busy Milwaukee musical hustler, and for Heading Home he hustled Chicago
drummer George Fludas into the recording studio to push and prod the musical proceedings to wonderful heights. Fludas is a unique drummer who is equally adept at authentically playing John Bonham as he is at interpreting Billy... read more
Aaron Immanuel Wright - Eleven Daughters
by Dick Crockett, AccessSacramento.com, "The Voice" 88.7FM
Bassist Aaron Immanuel Wright's debut CD indicate a cool rendering where music is demanding, melodic and confrontational, alternating competitive dissonance with translucence. Wright's bass lines are direct with a heavy distinct convulsive sound, learned from playing in many different environments, and with a degree in philosophy and music, performing and composing among the best jazz musicians in the world. Accompanied by mentor, educator and... read more
Shawn Purcell - Oblivity
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect
The D.C. guitarist Shawn Purcell is surrounded by some excellent players for these 10 originals that embrace fusion, post-bop and balladry.
The quick and dynamic title track starts the record with Walt Weiskopf's animated tenor sax amid Jeff Reed's swift bass, and "Quiet The Chaos" follows with a softer approach, as Chris Ziemba's graceful keys are met with Purcell's skilled guitar synth and wordless vocals from Darden Purcell.
"Gentle... read more
Cuong Vu - Leaps of Faith
by Steve Greenlee, Jazz Times
When not collaborating with top-ranking improvisers like Pat Metheny and Myra Melford, trumpeter Cuong Vu has spent the past 10 years making ethereal, languorous, cinematic music of his own writing. Standards? Not his thing. Not until now, anyway.
At first blush, Leaps of Faith appears to be an about-face for Vu, whose previous albums have featured original tunes and nothing else. But it takes all of a few seconds to realize that when... read more
Geof Bradfield - Urban Nomad
by Concert Preview, Timeout.com
Local saxophonist Bradfield was long one of our chief reasons to see Ted Sirota's Rebel Souls, thanks to his spunky intellectualism and ability to seemingly have fun on the bandstand (harder than it looks). The native Texan is celebrating a new CD these days, Urban Nomad, that should draw further attention to his unmistakable, post-bop-steeped talent.... read more
Lucas Pino - No Net Nonet
by George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly
Tenor saxist Lucas Pino hails from the Brubeck Institute, The New School and received his Masters Degree from Julliard, so he knows his way around a tune. Here, he puts together a nine-piece band for eleven cleverly arranged tunes that mix Mingusy grooves and harmonies and swings like a bopper in the process.
Pino himself has an old soul of a sound on his horn, warm and rich as on "Orange" and with luster along with Colin Stranahan's ride... read more
Matt Vashlishan - No Such Thing
by George Fendel, Jazz Society of Oregon
Right from the get-go, one hears Vashlishan's silvery tone, sometimes reminiscent of Paul Desmond or Gary Foster. Most of the tunes here are originals, but it's interesting to note in particular a few which are based on changes to well known standards. Hence, "Amalgamation" is built on "Giant Steps""Solar"; "Lennie's Place""Green Dolphin Street"; and "Pieces" shadows "All the Things You Are." Vic Juris's guitar is fine, but in groups such as... read more
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