Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Maja Jaku - Blessed & Bewitched
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect
The Austrian vocalist Maja Jaku brings her distinct voice to these 7 personal tracks that comprise this rich 5th album.
"The Witch" starts the listen with Dezron Douglas' emotive bass and Alan Bartus' intimate keys that suit Jaku's striking voice, and "I'm A Queen" follows with Johnathan Blake's strategic drums amid the expressive singing.
"Blessings Will Come" and "Never Let Me Go" land in the middle. The former has Jaku singing with a... read more
Joachim Mencel - Brooklyn Eye
by Piotr Iwicki, Jazz Forum (Poland)
5-STARS We have an amazing album. And it is not about the registration of the album signed by a Pole in the USA, surrounded by local giants of the jazz scene, or the world distribution resulting from the fact that it was released by a renowned label, but about the sound and complete negation of the artistic carbon paper.
The faith of Joachim Mencel is not without significance here, often verbalized in musical achievements (e.g. a... read more
Bobby Broom - My Shining Hour
by Peter Margasak, Chicago Reader
The recordings that peerless Chicago guitarist Bobby Broom makes with his trio are almost always shaped by a precise conceit -- a program of Monk tunes, for instance, or a reimagining of 60s pop tunes as jazz vehicles. His excellent new album, My Shining Hour (Origin), is devoted entirely to standards, which is only notable because it's something he hasn't done before. Bassist Dennis Carroll and drummer Makaya McCraven provide a crisp,... read more
Anne Drummond - Revolving
by Robert Ratajczak, Long Play (Hungary)
The pianist, pianist, composer and music teacher Anne Drummond has been active in New York concert life since 1997. She also performed in North America and Europe.
In 2013, she released her album which is a mixture of various musical styles, referring equally to jazz and classical music. The album is lightweight and easy to assimilate, crafted by Drummond and perfectly arranged. In addition to her own compositions, the collection includes... read more
Les DeMerle Sound 67 - Once in a Lifetime
by George W Harris, Jazz Weekly
Back in 1967, the careers of both drummer Les DeMerle and trumpeter Randy Brecker were just beginning, and this recently discovered album has the two together along with a rotating team of Lanny Morgan/asfl, Alan Gauvin/as, Terry Plumeri-Jack Greg/b and Genya Ravan/voc. DeMarle is snappy on the snares along with Brecker and Gauvin on Jazz Messenger inspired pieces like "Come Back To Me" and the horns dig in on "Sticks" with DeMerle cracking the... read more
Chris Walden Big Band - No Bounds
by Jim Santella, All About Jazz
For his sophomore release, trumpeter Chris Walden has written big band arrangements for several old chestnuts, several fresh originals and a few rare gems. His program sparkles with an accessible ambience. The combination of several vocal selections, a balance of orchestral instruments and big band sounds, and stellar soloing from this lineup of Los Angeles all-stars ensures that No Bounds will compare favorably with Walden's highly successful... read more
Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra - Sacred Music of Duke Ellington
by Andrew Lindemann Malone, Jazz Times 2006
Before this review delves into the overarching aesthetic issues which we critics so like to concern ourselves, I should note that the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra's two-CD compilation of pieces from Duke Ellington's three Sacred Concerts provides solid performances of mostly remarkable music. The Oregon Repertory Singers sound especially good under their conductor, Gil Seeley, delivering an exquisite textured account of Duke's a capella... read more
Curt Berg - At Stagg Street Studio
by Jim Santella, Cadence
Weekly rehearsals in Curt Berg's Los Angeles area garage studio afford him the opportunity to try out his compositions
and to interpret them with various personnel line-ups. For his first recording as leader this quintet does a stellar job; the Stagg Street studio isn't far from Berg's home and garage, but it offers the acoustics to capture the sound of his ensemble quite well. Deeply sensual and emotionally moving, the leader's compositions... read more
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