3 1/2 STARS Young tenorman Lucas Pino has led a monthly residency at Smalls Jazz Club with his smart nine-piece ensemble since March 2013, which explains why the band sounds so tight and cohesive on its self-titled debut, No Net Nonet. Out of the gate, the band navigates blistering, breakneck lines with hairpin precision on opener "The Fox," which features well-articulated serpentine runs from the leader followed by a more spacious... read more
Best so far in 2020... Intense and hard-hitting ... socially and politically conscious, often beautiful, work that will make you think and that never shirks from challenging and confronting societal wrongs in a way that transcends the polemics of the newspaper opinion writers and the power grab of politicians... Boone's vision surpasses all... read more
Multi-reedist Idit Shner made quite a splash with her debut recording, Tuesday's Blues (OA2, 2009). On that album, Shner led a straight- ahead quartet through some not so straight-ahead arrangements of traditional Jewish music. On Fissures she joins harpist Yumiko Endo Schlaffer in presenting 20th century compositions for saxophone and harp. The format is not so different from the classical violin sonata (pairing the violin with piano). That... read more
Another exploration of Jerome Kern is always welcome. Kern was the model and inspiration for Irving Berlin, Richard Rodgers and all the masters who followed. Seattle-based vocalist Kelly Harland could not have chosen a richer source of quality songs. She also could not have chosen a better duo to accompany her. The always tasteful Bill Mays is at the piano and her husband, Chuck Deardorf is the bassist. The most prominent aspect of Kern's music... read more
The bassist, composer and engineer Mike Pope has enjoyed a 30+ year career, and here we're treated to originals and covers with an excellent band plus strings.
"Misgivings" opens the 9 track listen with Geoffrey Keezer's firm keys that suit Pope's playful bass and Nate Smith's fluid drums, and "Steeplechase" follows with Roxy Cross' animated sax prowess adding much to the frisky energy of the Charlie Parker tune.
Entering the middle,... read more
If one had to choose a solitary word to describe Universal Mind, it would have to be "pensive." Homeported in the Hague, AsGuests was founded some fifteen years ago by vibraphonist Herak and pianist Vanoucek as a duo that eventually evolved into a quartet with a revolving cast of guest artists to augment the ensemble. Here they add a string trio to perform eight compositions written by the pianist. Except for "Solace Cells" and "Guanc,"... read more
Singer Laurie Antonioli has a gem here, one that reveals the many facets of her musical talent. She's got perfect pitch, the ability to immerse herself into the band she works with (a musician whose instrument is her voice), and she's a superb lyricist. This long-time educator chairs the vocal program at the California Jazz Conservatory in Berkeley. Antonioli and her band-mates put fresh spins on a wide variety of source material including... read more
A somewhat atypical jazz musician from New York, this Greg Germann . He chose to tour for years as a member of Broadway shows and in between delivered some soundtracks for films. Until Clarence Penn got him back on the right jazz path. The result is this 'Tales Of Time' with the help of, among others, Donny McCaslin and Luis Perdomo.
It certainly wasn't the case that drummer Germann completely renounced jazz over the past two decades. The... 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