Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Ray Vega & Thomas Marriott - Return of the East-West Trumpet Summit
by Raul DaGama, Latin Jazz Network
Frank Foster, in his autobiography tells of the time when he was invited on stage to play, at a time when he thought he was the bee's knees. He soon found out that Gene Ammons was also on stage with him and it didn't take Foster to find out who the real 'boss' was. That 'cutting' contest taught him a real lesson, not only in humility, but also in musicianship. The two trumpets on Return Of The East West Trumpet Summit are not in it to win... read more
Bill Anschell - Improbable Solutions
by Dan McClenaghan, All About Jazz
4-STARS Most fans of Seattle-based pianist Bill Anschell will not see this one coming. His comfort zone on his own recordings has been as a mainstream acoustic jazz artist, on albums like Shifting Standards (2018), a piano trio affair, Rumbler (2017) and Figments (2011), a solo piano outing. All of these were released on Origin Records.
Anschell, who formerly worked as vocalist Nnenna Freelon's musical director, crafts his recordings... read more
Thomas Marriott - Both Sides Of The Fence
by Jeff Krow, Audiophile Audition
Recorded two years after his Origin Records debut Individuation, Marriott is back with his second Origin release, Both Sides of the Fence. What stands out about this release is the song selection, a mixture of three Marriott originals along with an impeccably well chosen six other tunes by such artists as Ellington, Corea, and Hubbard. Recorded in Seattle, with noted local players, with the addition of two special guests - present day Seattle... read more
Robby Ameen - Live at the Poster Museum
by Editor, Modern Drummer
This is one of the best drummer led records that I have heard in a long while. We can tell that many of these musicians have been working together for a while in Conrad Herwig's Latin Side... band. However, under Ameen's leadership the Latin flavors get further twisted into a mélange of fusion, jazz, Latin, groove, and everything else; "Ameenmusic" if you will. And with Ameen's first live recording of his band, the music really jumps out of the... read more
Brian Gephart - Standing On Two Feet
by Dave Sumner, emusic
Jazz Picks of the Week - Lively session from saxophonist Gephart, who gives everyone in the sextet plenty of time to stand up and be heard. Neal Alger is a fun listen on guitar, and Tom Garling's trombone contrasts nicely with the guitar's bright notes. Eric Montzka on drums, Kelly Sill on bass, Karl Montzka on piano round on the sextet. Straight ahead tunes with a Friday night out on the town feel to them. When they slow it down, as... read more
Jessica Williams - Freedom Trane
by Jerome Wilson, Cadence
Pianist Jessica Williams explores the music of John Coltrane, playing compositions from various parts of his career as well as original pieces that strongly show his influence. All the familiar Coltrane characeristics are here: heavy chords, grand swirling introductions, and slowly unwinding melodies. But there are not a lot of direct takes from his most familiar pianist, McCoy Tyner. Williams' playing is based more on the rich melodic sweep... read more
Ben Thomas - Triskaidekaphobia
by Adam Greenburg, All Music Guide
An intriguing third release from vibraphonist Ben Thomas, Triskaidekphobia is rather exploratory, bouncing from tone to tone, but performing all with an inventive vibe-clarinet format, more to the combos of Bobby Hutcherson and Eric Dolphy than those of Benny Goodman and Lionel Hampton perhaps (more forward-oriented at any rate), but really not even within that vein. Here, the band takes on straightforward bop, post-bop, Brazilian idioms, and a... read more
Sam Yahel - From Sun to Sun
by Doug Simpson, Audiophile Audition
When he first came to the attention of jazz fans, keyboardist Sam Yahel became noteworthy as a Hammond B-3 player with a modern approach to his instrument, blending open-minded post-bop with traditionalist motivations and often breaking the mold of the sometimes stale jazz organ categorization. Recently, Yahel has moved forward by returning to his roots. Yahel began his musical career using acoustic piano and starting with his 2009 release,... 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.
Search Reviews:
Recently Added Reviews:
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