Every city tends to take its own jazz treasures a bit for granted, notwithstanding the respect they generate across the country and beyond. With My Shining Hour (Origin Records), to be released Aug. 19, guitarist Bobby Broom reminds us of his stature as soloist and bandleader. Fronting a trio with bassist Dennis Carroll and drummer Makaya McCraven, Broom stands front and center - and benefits enormously from this high exposure. Rarely... read more
A solo piano set of cerebral, impressionistic jazz recorded in Germany by a native. Does it get anymore ECM than that? Miss those old days when Manny was making magic out of thin air? If this set isn't a return to those times that left leaners had a sonic aerie they could let their ears hide out in, then nothing is. Right on that money... read more
Tenor saxophonist Jordan VanHemert's fifth album as a leader, Survival Of The Fittest, was partly borne out of anger and distress after losing a teaching job due to budget cuts (he has since found one at a different college) and his experiences with racism in general. Despite that, the music on this release (five originals, "Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise," "Come Sunday," a Korean folk song, and a blues) is generally hopeful,... read more
As this album?s title suggests, trios have been a mainstay in jazz for, well, generations. It?s a lot easier to gather simpatico musicians into a trio, than into a larger group. It?s an affordable combo; small clubs can?t foot the bill for larger groups. It also isn?t necessary to write the special arrangements required by bigger bands.
Rich Thompson?s trio is one of the newest.
Thompson?s career began in 1980, during the period when... read more
It's not every trumpeter that affectionately garners the appellation, "Little Red Rodney," as Chicago-born and now Boulder, Colorado-located artist, Brad Goode once did. And, it's not only because of what grows from under his cap and on his chin. Goode, who has performed with the "Red Arrow" and many other jazz and pop greats as both a lead and jazz player, is world-renown as an incredibly talented and multi-dimensional trumpeter,... read more
4-STARS The drummer John Bishop can look back on a decades-long musical career that was characterized by membership in trios, as when he recorded the album "Antwerp" with pianist Bram Weijters and bassist Piet Verbist, both Flemish. On his last trip to Antwerp, the idea arose to musically express their friendship and shared enthusiasm for this Belgian city as a trio. The sound on the new album is also characterized by mutual admiration... read more
Leonard Bernstein created with a palette with colors from jazz, blues and popular music, shaping a classical sound that attracted fans from around the world. The Vienna-based Jam Music Lab All-Stars, under the direction of pianist Danny Grissett, and special guest, drummer Peter Erskine, saluted Bernstein in performance, captured here. It's a new Bernstein shine, with the collective working through "Somewhere," "Lonely Town," "Cool" and more,... read more
4 STARS The third album for master drummer/composer Robby Ameen - engine driver for the Afrojazz-tastic likes of Dizzy Gillespie and Ruben Blades - is as spirited and accomplished as fans would expect. And as hard-hitting. While Ameen can do deft understatement, allowing starry brass-wielding mates including Bob Franceschini and Conrad Herwig to shine, Diluvio does what it says on the tin. When Ameen lets rip, as he does in charged,... 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