Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Marcos Varela - San Ygnacio
by Domi, Republic of Jazz
Drawing on collaborators from throughout his time in New York, Varela assembles a stand-out cast of veterans and peers. The album's core rhythm section is composed of two jazz giants: pianist George Cables, a key mentor, and drummer Billy Hart, one of Varela's earliest employers. They're joined by another longtime employer, trombonist Clifton Anderson, as well as two of Varela's most gifted contemporaries, saxophonists Dayna Stephens and Logan... read more
Dawn Clement - Delight
by Paul Rauch, All About Jazz
4 1/2 STARS Pianist / vocalist / composer Dawn Clement has appeared on plenty of recordings, both as a sideperson and leader, but she has perhaps never quite accomplished what she has here with Delight, on the Origin Records label.
There are balances achieved with this record that fans of the long-time Seattle, now Denver-based Clement can eagerly wrap their collective arms around. Her intrepid curiosity and virtuosity have been a... read more
Kelly Harland - Twelve Times Romance
by Christopher Loudon, JazzTimes, May 2003
Through no real fault of her own, fellow Seattleite Kelly Harland fares less well with her debut effort, Twelve Times Romance (Origin). Harland, who closely resembles actress Teri Garr, has a fresh, sunny sound garnished with a healthy dollop of Lena Horne's phrasing. The former backup singer and respected vocal coach handles a broad spectrum of standards, ranging from the plaintive regret of "Too Late Now" to the Broadway bravado of "I... read more
Todd Bishop - Little Played Little Bird
by Rebecca Ruth, WYCE Music Journal
Accomplished photographer, landscape oils painter and drummer, Todd Bishop, may be familiar to you because of his group, Pop Art 4, which is dedicated to exploring commercial music of the 60s and 70s. (Such as Todd Bishop Pop Art 4: 69 Annee Erotique: Music of Serge Gainsbourg.) Except for the classic "Lonely Woman", you've likely not heard most of the songs on Little Played Little Bird. That's because band leader,... read more
Jeff Johnson - The Art of Falling
by Charles Walker, Jazz Review
When making lists of the most innovative contemporary jazz musicians, many denounce what they see as pure American centrism, an inability to look beyond the shores of jazz's homeland. What this falls short of is the tendency to confine those lists even further to New York, Chicago, and possibly one or two other major metropolitan areas. That's where the audiences are, so that's where the talent goes, or so the argument runs.
What bassist... read more
Michael Dease - The Other Shoe: The Music of Gregg Hill
by George W Harris, Jazz Weekly
Co-producer Gregg Hill has his compositions interpreted by the bold trombonist Michael Dease and the team of Virginal MacDonald/cl, Geoffrey Keezer-Luther Alison/p, Liany Mateo/b Colleen Clark/dr and a handful of guests. The addition of MacDonald's clarinet makes for rich ideas, as she's featured on the quirky "Wake Up Call" and her vibrato seduces on "Shorty's Tune". Dease has a horn that is big and brassy, going up and sown the scales on "The... read more
Dave Slonaker Big Band - Shifty Paradigms
by George W Harris, Jazz Weekly
Classy modern big band charts are delivered by composer/arranger Dave Slonaker and his tgeam of LA All Stars. The sections are rich and wondrous throughout, hip as all get out around Tom Luer's tenor sax on "Dash Cam" while a "All Blues"y tilt on "Bye Bye Blues" goes 6/8 around Ron Stouts' Milesy trumpet. The brass goes into a rich fanfare on the declaratory "3rd and Four" while drummer Peter Erskine builds up the groove under Brian Scanlon's... read more
Kelly Brand Nextet - The Door
by Thomas Conrad, JazzTimes, May 2008
The Nextet (nice neologism) is first an outlet for the compositions and arrangements of Kelly Brand, and second a showcase for some of Chicago's best straightahead jazz players: tenor saxophonist Geof Bradfield, trumpeter Art Davis, bassist Kelly Sill (Brand's husband) and drummer Jon Deitemyer. Brand writes polished melodies and subtle harmonies and clever charts that reflect her upbeat attitude toward life. This positive energy gives The Door... read more
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