Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Dave Slonaker Big Band - Shifty Paradigms
by Jack Bowers, All About Jazz
4 1/2 STARS While Los Angeles-based composer and arranger Dave Slonaker's paradigms may be shifty, his all-star big band is about as forthright as one could wish. On Shifty Paradigms, his third recording fronting the band, Slonaker guides his peerless eighteen-member ensemble through its paces on a dynamic and always-swinging program that encompasses seven of his stellar original compositions and the venerable standard, "Bye Bye... read more
Kiki Valera - Vivencias en Clave Cubana
by Tom McCarter, KZSU - Stanford
Son Cubano is a genre of music and dance originating from the hill country of eastern Cuba during the 19th century. Its origins are a blend of African and Spanish influences. Son vocal style and meter are of Spanish tradition, while its identifiable clave rhythm, call and response, and percussive elements are of Bantu origin. This disc contains> twelve finely crafted original tunes played exquisitely throughout this recording. The innovative... read more
Ben Patterson - Push the Limits
by Georges Tonla Briquet, Jazz'halo (Belgium)
As the title suggests, trombonist Ben Patterson does not really break through all boundaries on his latest CD, but the way in which he knows how to alternate swing and bop and seamlessly merge them into each other commands respect.
An extremely colorful program that he wrote together for a combination of guitar, keys, bass, drums and trombone. Thanks to the impulses of guitarist Shawn Purcell, everything regularly shifts responsibly towards... read more
John Stowell | Michael Zilber - Shot Through With Beauty
by Kyle O'Brien, Jazz Society of Oregon
Stowell is one of Portland's most refined jazz guitarists. He is versatile and sophisticated, along with being highly inventive. But instead of being brash like many bold improvisers, his persona is controlled and tempered. Here, with like-minded saxophonist Michael Zilber, bassist John Shifflett and drummer Jason Lewis, Stowell is well within his element. Playing covers, like a nice mellow version of Dizzy Gillespie's "Alma," or a modern... read more
Western Jazz Collective - Dark Journey: The Music of Andrew Rathbun
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect
A collection of musicians who have the Western Michigan University in common, the 7 players on hand flesh out the music of saxophonist/composer Andrew Rathbum with much precision.
"Making No Sense" starts the listen with Matt Landon's frisky guitar lines alongside Rathbun's soulful sax for a timeless jazz spirit, and "Infinite Being" follows with a calmer pace of light drums from benefit much from Scott Cowan's radiant trumpet.
Deeper... read more
Joonsam - A Door
by Travis Rogers, Jr., JazzTimes
It's hard to improve on a trio that features Aaron Parks on piano and Nate Woods on drums but, when bassist Joonsam Lee was ready to release his debut album as a leader, he beefed up an already formidable line-up by adding Ralph Alessi on trumpet, Yvonnick Prene on harmonica, Ben Monder on guitar, and the fascinating additions of Yeahwon Shin on vocals and Chungeun Han on the bamboo flute. The trio, however, remains the core.
Released on... read more
Chris Walden Big Band & The St. John's Choir - Kurt Marti Suite
by Jeff Krow, Audiophile Audition
Chris Walden is an adventurous soul. He has made a strong presence in the Los Angeles big band scene with several albums of straight ahead big band music, yet he has tackled non-traditional pop music for big band arrangements of Disney's When You Wish Upon a Star, and It's a Small World After All. On his first big band effort, (2005's Home of My Heart, also on Origin Records), Walden took on film noir in a three-part suite, as well as the theme... read more
Paul Marinaro - Mood Ellington
by Jim Hynes, Making A Scene
My first reaction to this excellent double disc from Chicago-based vocalist Paul Marinaro was simply the pure joy of having 25 of Duke Ellington and/or Billy Strayhorn's tunes in one collection. Yet, delving into the album more deeply, it was the inventive arrangements and Marinaro's confident, unhurried phrasing and natural affinity for the material that was most impressive. This massive project ranks easily as one of the top male vocal albums... read more
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