Origin Records Reviews

Jessica Williams - Songs of Earth
by Ric Bang, JazzScan

Pianist/composer Jessica Williams is an elite musicians who is so well known that she needs little introductory or background verbiage to inflate reviews of her albums. Like many pianists, she began her studies with the classics and switched to jazz during her teens. Unlike most beginners, however ? who start out playing with unknowns ? Williams was associated with icons from the get-go; her first group was headed by Miles Davis drummer Philly... read more

Joe Locke - Subtle Disguise
by Dan Bilawsky, All About Jazz

Have we been dealing with two different Joe Lockes for all these years? To some, the vibraphonist presents as a technically adept and intellectually curious seeker, constantly pushing through to new levels of possibility and commitment with his music. But for others, Locke is a conduit to understanding the human condition. This is a dichotomy that obviously speaks to vantage points and perspectives, with neither understanding ringing false. And... read more

Josh Nelson - Exploring Mars
by Dan McClenaghan, All About Jazz

4 1/2 STARS - Mars, the forth planet from the sun - that blood red star arcing across the sky - has been investigated by many in the arts. Before NASA landed four rovers on the red planet's surface, science fiction writers took up the task of exploring our planetary neighbor: Edgar Rice Burroughs with his fantastic Barsoom series, beginning with Princess of Mars (1917), Ray Bradbury with the poetic Martian Chronicles... read more

Mimi Fox - Standards, Old & New
by John Barron, The Jazz Word

For her third solo guitar release, San Francisco-based Mimi Fox blends folk, pop and jazz standards into a collection of accessible, high spirited jazz. Woody Guthrie's "This Land is Your Land" opens up the disc with bluesy inflections and impressive double time soloing with bass lines, chords and riffs spread out in even proportion. "Cry Me a River" by nature lends itself to soulful inflection and Fox turns the tune inside-out. A grand... read more

Carlos Vega - Bird's Ticket
by George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly

Tenor saxist Carlos Vega leads a heavy hitting post bop team of Victor Garcia/tp, Stu Mindeman/p-key, Josh Ramos/b and Xavier Breaker/dr through ten rich originals. Vega's tone is Coltrane-esque thick with a hint of fuzz attached and he's quite adept at tricky lines and driving grooves as on the quicksilver "A Confluence in Chi-Town" and intricate title track. Mindeman's piano is a lovely companion as he and the rhythm team form a table dance... read more

Dana Hall - Into the Light
by Jim Santella, Cadence

Drummer Dana Hall mixes Jazz mainstream material with some heavily progressive textures on this recording debut as leader. As a member of Terell Stafford's quintet, he's familiar with the members of this ensemble; they share a fondness for group-speak, where unison passages fill the bill and individual soloing remains prominent. Hall, who studied aerospace engineering at Iowa State University, sees the role of drummer as a creative force in Jazz... read more

Bob Sneider & Joe Locke - Nocturne for Ava
by Jay Collins, Cadence

Nocturne For Ava is the second release from the Film Noir Project, guitarist Bob Sneider and vibraphonist Joe Locke's homage to Noir classics and other dark-hued compositions that offer a cinematic ambiance. Whereas the group's debut, Fallen Angel (Sons of Sound) conjured a dark, atmospheric setting matching its title, this second record expands the group's range, offering less strict mood music (in a good way) and more in the Jazz vein. To... read more

Chad McCullough & Bram Weijters - Abstract Quantities
by Jerome Wilson, Cadence

A lot of classical and progressive rock motifs run through this CD in a set that creates quiet beauty out of simple figures in a way that suggests the music of Kenny Wheeler. Chad McCullough plays sweeping, melodic trumpet over stomping rock rhythms on "Billions" while "Mr Rubato" has the ethereal sweep of "In A Silent Way" as Bram Weijters' piano spills out under McCullough's gorgeous sound and John Bishop's drums storm in the back.... read more

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