Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Joachim Mencel - Brooklyn Eye
by WOJCIECH PACUŁA, High Fidelity (Poland)
BEST RECORDING 2020 - High Fidelity Magazine (Poland)
Joachim Mencel - pianist, lyricist, composer, music producer, dr hab. - assistant professor at the Academy of Music in Krakow, decorated, among others The Silver Cross of Merit and the Bronze Medal for Merit to Culture - Gloria Artis, called the "romantic of Polish jazz pianism" - we read in the official biography available on the musician's website.
He graduated from the... read more
Jared Hall - Hometown
by Scott Yanow, Los Angeles Jazz Scene
An excellent trumpeter with an attractive sound, a wide range, and a real feel for advanced hard bop, Jared Hall is heard in top form throughout Hometown. His fourth album as a leader and third for the Origin label, this set teams him with tenor-saxophonist Troy Roberts (whose inventive and fiery solos sometimes come close to stealing the show), pianist Ben Markley, bassist Michael Glynn, and drummer Kyle Swan.
The seven selections include... read more
Hal Galper Trio - Airegin Revisited
by Philip Booth, Jazziz
Hal Galper, the well-traveled pianist, educator and author, is best-known for his decade-long residency with the Phil Woods Quintet. In 1990, he began earnestly focusing on the art of the trio, heading a touring group with bassist Jeff Johnson and drummer Steve Ellington. With John Bishop replacing Ellington in recent years, Galper has worked on refining a rubato style of collective performance, an approach that's about nothing if not the... read more
Milan Verbist Trio - Time Change
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect
Milan Verbist, Toon Rumen and Jens Meijer come together for this debut recording that showcases their inimitable chemistry with 9 adventurous jazz tracks.
"Time Change" leads with Verbist's dense keys that eventually take company from Meijer's restrained drums and Rumen's unpredictable bass, and "Bosonossa" follows with playful bass plucking amid the firm keys and crisp drumming.
"Happy House" and "Brigitte's Waltz" occupy the middle... read more
Tito Carrillo - Urbanessence
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect
The seasoned trumpeter and composer Tito Carrillo returns with a sophomore album, where he explores the distinct energy of city life along with Troy Roberts (sax), Ben Lewis (piano), Clark Sommers (bass), Jay Sawyer (drums) and Victor Gonzalez (congas).
"Momentum" starts the listen with a lively energy, where bright brass and frisky drumming help make for a very flowing climate, and "Fire & Ice" follows with a calmer pace of warm keys and... read more
Laurie Antonioli - Songs of Shadow, Songs of Light
by George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly
It seems the jazz world has finally made Joni Mitchell an official member of the jazz composers canon. Vocalist Laurie Antonioli is the latest to delve into the rich songbook of the contemporary icon. Her voice has a hint of Mitchell's ironic folksiness, but with a dash of a harder edge. She teams up with the intriguing mix of reeds supplied by Sheldon Brown, Matt Clark's keyboards and along with Dave MacNab/g, John Shifflett/b and Jason... read more
Dan Dean - Songs Without Words
by Melinda Bargreen, Author and music critic
Dan Dean will redefine what you think is possible to achieve with the human voice. In this recording, he makes his voice an orchestra that "plays" spectacular classics like Mussorgsky's "Night on Bald Mountain," but it's all honest singing: actual sung notes, not sampled and manipulated electronically, What a range, vocally and stylistically; how subtle and artful the compilation of these tracks; what fine musicianship and ear-opening... read more
Ben Thomas Tango Project - Eternal Aporia
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect
The multi-instrumentalist and composer Ben Thomas has a lengthy and esteemed career in jazz sounds, and here he offers us another interest of his, tango music, where Eric Likkel, Steve Schermer, Gretchen Yanover, Brandon Vance and Jonathan Geer accompany him.
"Tangent 7" opens the listen with playful Thomas' vibraphone alongside Yanover's warm cello and Geer's strategic keys in the upbeat climate, and "Safeguards" follows with a calmer... read more
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