Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Florian Hoefner - Luminosity
by John McBeath, The Australian
Although German pianist - now Canada-based - Florian Hoefner has played at festivals throughout Europe, appeared on 10 previous recordings and toured extensively in the US and Canada, he's not as well known in Australia. This new album by his quartet, recorded in New York, features Australian bassist Sam Anning, with drummer Peter Kronreif and saxophonist Seamus Blake. These eight tracks display Hoefner's composing ability and his stunning... read more
Diverse - Diverse
by Brian Shaw, International Trumpet Guild
The core of Diverse was initially composed of four young musicians who were enrolled at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance. After winning the 2008 Gene Harris Jazz Competition in Boise, Idaho, the quartet became a quintet with the addition of pianist John Brewer. This, their debut recording, documents a collaborative collection of all-original material written by members of the group and showcases each... read more
Charlie Ballantine - East by Midwest
by George W Harris, Jazz Weekly
Guitarist Charlie Ballantine forms a bopping trio with Quinn Sternberg/b and Dan Weiss/dr on a mix of originals and clever covers. What's most attractive about Ballantine is the use of his unique tone; it's got a thick, rural sound, hinting at Bill Frisell in it's palpability, but with a bit of energy in the John Scofield world. He gets folksy and traditional tones on "Storyteller", while bouncing with delight on the bopping read of Thelonious... read more
Jonas Tauber - Storm Walking Singing
by Joshua Kline, Double Bassist
Recorded before a live audience at Cafe 26 in Switzerland, Storm Walking Singing comprises mainly original improvised solo pieces performed by bassist Jonas Tauber. Such is the level of intensity and conviction of Tauber's playing that one has to remind oneself that this is just one man and his double bass. His ambitious approach to the instrument compounds the impression that there is an ensemble rather than a soloist at play.
Particularily... read more
Marius Nordal - Ways of the Hand
by Butch Berman, Berman Music Review
It's getting hard to keep up with the breadth of material - and most of it, in my opinion, is very good - from Origin Records. Another group of great talented guys (as with Don Lanphere) - still never met face-to-face but have been musically acquainted since both (BMF and Origin) of our inceptions. Their current Seattle catalog is growing and is of superb quality and variety.
Such are two entrees I for some reason checked out back-to-back... read more
Chad McCullough - Dark Wood, Dark Water
by Ken Dryden, All Music Guide
Like many artists who lead dates on Origin, Chad McCullough makes his recording debut for the label, joined by veterans like saxophonists Mark Taylor and Geof Bradfield, pianist Bill Anschell (whose career has flourished since relocating to the Pacific Northwest), bassist Jeff Johnson, and drummer John Bishop. McCullough's rich re-harmonized treatment of the Beatles' "Blackbird" barely touches on the melody before it progresses well beyond its... read more
Chad McCullough & Bram Weijters - Abstract Quantities
by Dave Sumner, Bird is the Worm
There is a workmanlike quality to the magic this quartet creates with each recording. Abstract Quantities is the third album from the quartet led by pianist Bram Weijters and Chad McCullough, and much like the two that preceded it (2011's Imaginary Sketches and 2012's Urban Nightingale) they go about their job of crafting expert melodies and seamlessly fusing them into place with logical rhythms and harmonies that achieve their function... read more
Chris Walden Big Band - Home Of My Heart
by Jeff Krow, Audiophile Audition
Chris Walden is a film score writer from Los Angeles and at a young (for a big band leader) 38, has hit a home run with his big band Origin cd, Home of My Heart. Recorded at the venerable Capitol Studios in Hollywood and featuring the cream of the crop top LA session men, Walden's CD swings mightily and his big band connects on a mix of well known big band standards as well as Walden originals. The maturity level of Walden is impressive and the... read more
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