Origin Records Reviews

Dana Hall - Into the Light
by Kevin Whitehead, NPR Music Reviews

Dana Hall doesn't often hog the spotlight on his debut album, Into the Light. He doesn't need to; he plays more stuff behind other musicians than some drummers do in a solo. Hall stays busy back there, exhorting and swinging the band, playing contrary rhythms, shifting his patterns and punctuating everybody else's solos.

Here, Herbie Hancock's "I Have a Dream" is played more or less in the style of the Miles Davis quintet with Tony Williams... read more

Dave Liebman | John Stowell - Petite Fleur: The Music of Sidney Bechet
by Dawid Malanowski, MultiKulti Project (Poland)

5-STARS Steve Lacy, one of the great innovators of jazz, considered Sidney Bechet to be a genius, New York clarinettist David Krakauer repeatedly paid him a musical tribute, now Dave Liebman, who played in groups of the greatest jazz fans such as John Coltrane, Elvin Jones, and Miles Davis reaches for his compositions. In 2011, Liebman received the prestigious American award Master of Jazz, awarded to the most important jazzmen. When the... read more

Emma Larsson - Sing To the Sky
by Christopher Loudon, JazzTimes

Listening to Emma Larsson, it's hard not to be reminded of the young Nancy Wilson. The Swedish-born, New York-based singer, now three albums into what promises to be an impressive career, mirrors Wilson's silken delivery and her sly interpretative sass. Yet beneath that elegant surface is a tiger ready to spring, a jazz-savvy adventuress worthy of Abbey Lincoln or Betty Carter. While her previous discs teamed her with a trio of top-drawer... read more

Nnenna Freelon - Beneath the Skin
by Stephen Graham, Marlbank (UK)

4-STARS There's a sign in the water.... Great lyrics, burning rhythms, such impact in the vocal it's all there.

Much more preferable to the earlier pre-album release single of US singer Nnenna Freelon's from Beneath the Skin which was a little too "trad" for my taste, this latest unveiling from the Cambridge, Massachusetts born jazz vocals icon is a keeper and rewards frequent replay.

More progressive "going fourth" the... read more

Corey Christiansen - Lone Prairie
by Robert Ratajczak, LongPlay: RadioJAZZ - Poland

[translated from Polish] Lone Prairie is the fifth album by Corey Christiansen in recent years (third released by the American label Origin Records), successfully strengthening his position among the greatest jazz guitarists in the world. After a stunning debut in 2004 (The Awakening), an album he recorded with trio MB3 (Hits Jazz Vol.1), and two albums highly accepted in the United States: Roll With It and Outlaw... read more

Matt Vashlishan - No Such Thing
by George Fendel, Jazz Society of Oregon

Right from the get-go, one hears Vashlishan's silvery tone, sometimes reminiscent of Paul Desmond or Gary Foster. Most of the tunes here are originals, but it's interesting to note in particular a few which are based on changes to well known standards. Hence, "Amalgamation" is built on "Giant Steps""Solar"; "Lennie's Place""Green Dolphin Street"; and "Pieces" shadows "All the Things You Are." Vic Juris's guitar is fine, but in groups such as... read more

Tim Horner - The Head of the Circle
by Dave Sumner, emusic

emusic Pick of the Week - Hard to believe that this is just a sextet recording. Horner gets such a huge, yet finely detailed sound out of the group that you'd think they had a couple extra sets of arms helping with the heavy lifting. Lyrical as hell, and uplifting to boot. Joe Locke's vibes typically sound magical, but on this recording, he's casting spells left and right. I thought nothing could get better than Ted Nash's bass... read more

Giacomo Gates - Centerpiece
by Scott Yanow, L.A. Jazz Scene

Giacomo Gates is one of the top male jazz singers around today. His scat singing, use of vocalese and bebop attitude plant him as a successor to Eddie Jefferson, King Pleasure and Dave Lambert. Centerpiece is his finest recording to date.

Joined by pianist Harold Danko, bassist Ray Drummond and drummer Greg Bandy with guest appearances from altoist Vincent Herring and guitarist Vic Juris, Gates is heard throughout in prime form. Among the... 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.