Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Trio East - Best Bets
by Ed Trefzger, JazzWeek
A WORKING GROUP since 2001, the "power trio" of Clay Jenkins on trumpet, Jeff Campbell on bass and Rich Thompson on drums keeps a regular Thursday gig a few blocks from the Eastman School of Music where all are on the faculty. The absence of piano on this understated CD of mostly originals and a few uniquely arranged standards provides plenty of space for Jenkins' smouldering but clear trumpet, Campbell's driving bottom end and Thompson's... read more
Christopher Icasiano - Provinces
by Paul Simpson, The Answer Is In the Beat
The first solo album from Christopher Icasiano (of Seattle-based jazz group Bad Luck) contains two continuous suites ("Provinces" and "Taho") related to the complexity of cultural identity as a second generation Filipino-American. The album consists entirely of complex, sometimes frenzied drumming mixed with ambient synths as well as some field recordings from the Philippines. On the first track, which goes for ten minutes, he keeps up a rapid... read more
Hal Galper Trio - Airegin Revisited
by John Barron, The Jazz Word
For a few years now, veteran pianist Hal Galper has been experimenting with an approach to jazz improvisation that he refers to as "rubato." This concept, as demonstrated on a series of recordings for Origin Records, uses familiar pieces and song forms and takes rather spontaneous liberty with tempo and tune structure. This may not seem like anything too out of the ordinary for the solo pianist, but within the context of a trio it would appear... read more
Mimi Fox - Standards, Old & New
by Jason Bivens, Cadence
This terrific, unpretentious solo recording bears some comparison with fellow guitarist Eric Hofbauer's recent solo reading of Americana. But Fox's bright, uncluttered, unvarnished archtop playing is more clearly in the lineage of Jim Hall and Joe Pass. She marries this approach with a number of familiar and unexpected pieces, brought together by her assured and impassioned playing in a concise and rewarding set. The Guthrie tune starts out... read more
Hadley Caliman - Straight Ahead
by C. Michael Bailey, All About Jazz
The most appealing thing about Hadley Caliman, save for his very eloquent name, is his equally eloquent and understated tenor saxophone playing. Firmly in a post-Coltrane context, Caliman plays a virile and muscular tenor saxophone whose tone compels because of its carefully crafted rough edges. Straight Ahead follows up his 2008 Origin release Gratitude.
Caliman joins a ratified group of Left Coast jazz musicians who interrupted their... read more
Dann Zinn - Day of Reckoning
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record
Recorded as a farewell to Fantasy Studios, sax man Zinn and his pals recorded pretty much live off the floor capturing their vibes as well as the sounds that passed through those doors (even if some of them were recorded by Van Gelder on the other side of the country). These originals are all about energy and heart, both of which are delivered by the truck load. Smoking mainstream stuff that gives you a great view of a cat that just keeps... read more
Keigo Hirakawa - Pixel
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect
The pianist Keigo Hirakawa has a lot of experience in the area of playing jazz music, and these lively 8 tracks welcome Rafael Statin, Brandon Scott Coleman, Robert Hurst, and Alex White.
The title track opens the listen with Hirakawa's meticulous key progressions alongside Statin's soulful sax and White's stunning drum acrobatics, and "Far Above" follows with a breezy demeanor of soft guitar from Coleman that suits the melodic piano.
The... read more
Hadley Caliman - Gratitude
by Jeff Krow, Audiophile Audition
Welcome back Hadley... ****1/2
Hadley Caliman's hiatus as a recording leader has been for way too long -approaching three decades. He has not been in hiding - he simply left the craziness of our few jazz Meccas and settled in Seattle, where he has kept busy playing gigs in the Emerald City jazz clubs and also serving as a senior member of the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra.
Caliman's main period of recording was in the 70s, when he... read more
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