Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Benjamin Boone - Caught in the Rhythm
by Dr. Debra Jan Bibel, Amazon
Benjamin Boone continues his lauded project of uniting poetry with jazz. After the two volumes of The Poetry of Jazz, featuring the poems and narration of Laureate Philip Levine, followed by A Gathering of Poets, 11 narrating their own often dark and angry social commentary, he presents his most interesting, expansive, and musical combinations that Boone himself regards as his best. Again, no text of the poems are provided, forcing the listener... read more
Kobie Watkins - Involved
by Jeff Krow, Audiophile Audition
Chicagoan Kobie Watkins is most well known as Bobby Broom's drummer for Broom's guitar trio. Kobie has been featured on the Origin Records of Broom. Well, it was high time that Watkins got his own CD to showcase his drumming talents. Involved, just issued by Origin, features many of Kobie's Windy City cohorts. It also shares the wealth generously both in jazz genres and expressions.
Watkins wrote or co-wrote four of the tracks with the... read more
David Friesen - A Light Shining Through
by Rick Anderson, CD Hotlist - New Releases for Libraries
The origin story of this recording is sweet and slightly heartbreaking. David Friesen's mother is from Ukraine, and after a long career as a boundary-pushing bassist and composer he was finally able to visit that country on tour in 2015. There he had the opportunity to perform and record with the National Academic Symphonic Band, and later recorded these sessions with the Kyiv Mozart String Quartet. That was in 2021, and the combination of war... read more
Darrell Grant - Truth And Reconciliation
by Bob Karlovits, Pittsburgh Tribune Review
This two-CD album has a curious event it calls a "reprise." The first disc by this marvelous pianist and an equally strong group ends with a version of Sting's "King of Pain" that sounds unfinished. The second disc begins with more "King of Pain." It seems like a runover on a newspaper story. Really, a little editing could have produced one version that would have been fine, thanks. But that is a minor oddity on this delightful album. It is made... read more
Ben Thomas Tango Project - The Hat with the Grin and the Chuckle
by Rudolf Radnai, avxforum.hu (Budapest)
Ben Thomas' Tango Project album has a particularly interesting and unusual sound, the title of which evokes the memory of a famous chef, and despite the bandoneon sound, the music has little to do with Argentine tango, but rather the imprints of Thomas's personality, layered polyrhythms, with inventive melodies and surprising... read more
Zem Audu - Spirits
by Thom Jurek, All Music
Saxophonist and composer Zem Audu is a musical nomad. Though he has been a resident of New York City for years, he was born in Nigeria and raised in England, where he received a formidable musical education. He spent the '90s and 2000s working with a startling array of musicians including Hugh Masekela, Courtney Pine, Ernest Ranglin, Jason Moran, and the Skatalites (with whom he has enjoyed a lengthy tenure). In 2016, he issued a digital-only EP... read more
Nnenna Freelon - Beneath the Skin
by Tessa Souter, The New York City Jazz Record
Nnenna Freelon's folk-infused Beneath the Skin (Origin) is a deeply autobiographical work, rooted in grief and transformation. The album addresses three profound personal losses: her late husband, renowned architect Phil Freelon; her sister, Debbie; and the family dog, Basie. Acclaimed as a gifted jazz interpreter, Freelon shows herself here as a powerful songwriter and storyteller, channeling grief into a body of work that is both raw ("Widow... read more
Carlos Vega - Bird's Up
by Dick Metcalf, Improvijazzation
Carlos's high-energy & high-talent tenor and soprano sax work always gets high ratings here... I reviewed him just a while back in issue # 164, & this newest release is even better... you'll also hear great playing from Victor Garcia on Trumpet, Flugelhorn; Stu Mindeman - Piano, Rhodes; Josh Ramos - Bass; Xavier Breaker - Drums; Cheryl Wilson - Vocals; Scott Hesse - Guitar; Steve Strand - Flugelhorn and Michael B. Nelson -... read more
Looking for a specific review?
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.
Search Reviews:
Recently Added Reviews:
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