Hadley Caliman has had a long, distinguished career as a sideman, appearing on albums by Gerald Wilson, Bobby Hutcherson, Hampton Hawes, and Joe Henderson, among others, though he has had relatively sporadic opportunities to record as a leader.
His second CD for Origin indicates he may have found a regular outlet for his music, backed by the young trumpeter Thomas Marriott (who also records as a leader for the label and appeared on Caliman's... read more
Chris Icasiano is a Seattle-based Filipino-American percussionist and composer of great presence in Seattle. One might know him as drummer of the iconic Bad Luck, as a social activist, music organizer and advocate, and/or around Café Racer for Racer Sessions.
Icasiano can find meaning and influence in just about any genre of music, and for his debut solo album, Provinces, a great many of those influences converge into a jaw-dropping personal... read more
This is a project recorded nearly thirty years ago, (1992) but it's still fresh and exciting. The 'live' performance shows off the very best of Cathy Segal-Garcia's range and style. It also features the wonderful and inventive piano playing of Phillip Strange. It's a 2-CD set, opening with "I'm In the Mood for Love" where Cathy sings the original melody, with quite a few of her own twists and complimentary turns, then stretches out to sing... read more
A record called The Rhythm sounds like it should feature some wonderful drumming, and it does! Drummer EJ Strickland is one of the most overlooked jazz drummers on the New York jazz scene.
He always makes everyone around him sound better, and he always plays the music with taste and perfection. This record is no different. His hook-up with bassist Kenny Davis is transparent, always there without drawing too much attention to itself. Listen to... read more
Born in 1959, vibraphonist Joe Locke belongs to a minority within the jazz scene; nevertheless, since his arrival in New York in 1981, he has established himself as a master of his craft. As a bandleader, his body of work to date comprises over thirty albums—supplemented by more than twice that number on which he appears as a distinguished sideman. Freddy Cole and Eddie Henderson, in particular, have regularly called upon Locke's services.... read more
Chuck Deardorf uses a full arsenal of basses on this album with Dawn Clemen/p-key, Matt Wilson/dr, Hans Teuber/ts-fl and guests Marc Seale/p, Gary Hobbs/dr, Thomas Marriott/fh, Jay Thomas/fh and David Marriott/tb. On electric bass, Deardorff creates a Weather Reportish mood with Seales on the tapestry of "Falling Grace" while getting elegiac on "Silver Hollow." A pair of tunes by Thelonoious Monk have Teuber's tenor join with Deardorf's soft... read more
If you've been following the Seattle jazz scene, no doubt you know a few of the musicians calling themselves Meridian Odyssey. They've played as sidemen with many of the city's top players and spent hours working together in each others' bands. Despite and because of the pandemic, the quintet of friends found room to collaborate in socially distanced Alaska, resulting in a great new album.
For Second Wave, Xavier Lecouturier, the band's... read more
The thrid release from Seattle-based Greta Matassa, who delivers her ten-song opus on "The Smiling Hour," favors a smoky, whisper-like delivery that matches the ambiance of this mostly laid-back affair, though several tracks demonstrate her considerable breadth. Matassa's stated goal is to take the listener through a "pleasant day," with bright beginnings and a reflective quietude at its conclusion. Contemporary songwriters are an obvious... read more
This is just a small collection of the Origin Records reviews. Click here to view all reviews or try to Search for your favorite CD title.
Abate Berihun & The Addis Ken Project - Addis Ken
by Hanna Kay, Cult News (Paris)
Abate Berihun & The Addis Ken Project - Addis Ken
by Budapest, Rudolf Radnai
Abate Berihun & The Addis Ken Project - Addis Ken
by Editor, Bman's Blues Report
Jared Hall - Hometown
by Editor, Bman's Blues Report
Dawn Clement - Dear Ms. Dearie
by Editor, Bman's Blues Report
Jared Hall - Hometown
by Dee Dee McNeil, Making A Scene
Affinity Trio - New Outlook
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect
Michael Dease Big Band - Return Trajectory
by Thierry De Clemensat, Paris Move
Brad Goode Quintet Feat. Ernie Watts - Live Your Dream: Live at North Street Cabaret
by Thierry De Clemensat, Paris Move
Maja Jaku - Blessed & Bewitched
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect