Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Metropolitan Jazz Octet - The Bowie Project
by C. Michael Bailey, Wild Mercury Rhythm
Like a melodic fragment, a foretelling leitmotif teasing with more to come, Chicago vocalist Paul Marinaro's recent Not Quite Yet (Myrtle Records, 2022) included two David Bowie compositions: "5:15 The Angels Have Gone" and "No Plan." Inclusion here pushed Marinaro's second studio recording over the top of a creative peak for the singer in preparation for an even greater one. Released a little too close for comfort with respect to the release... read more
Ark Ovrutski - Intersection
by Dan Bilawsky, All About Jazz
4 1/2 STARS Ukrainian bassist Ark Ovrutski arrived on American soil just over a decade ago, and he's been rather busy ever since. A nonstop go-getter from his earliest days, Ovrutski immediately made the most out of that move, steadily working his way into the ultra-competitive New York jazz scene and seeking out opportunities to further his playing and knowledge in formal academic settings and informal environments. Now, with a full gigging... read more
Various Artists - Modern Jazz: A Collection of Seattle's Finest Jazz
by Bill White, Seattle PI
With a respite from the harsh weather that had tied up the city earlier in the week, Ballard Avenue was alive Thursday night with the festive laughter of bar-hopping crowds sampling some of Seattle's finest jazz.
The snow and ice had melted, the winds had stopped, and the sky was clear. The eight venues participating in the Ballard Jazz Walk were comfortably full. Traffic moved in and out steadily, and there was always a free chair to be... read more
Michael Dease - City Life: Music of Gregg Hill
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect
The esteemed trombonist Michael Dease is joined by some first rate players for 2 discs of tunes that pay tribute to Gregg Hill's legacy.
The warm spirit of "Willow Walks In" opens, where Dease's strategic horn is met with Linda May Han Oh's frisky bass, and it isn't long until "Movie Theme" allows for Jeff 'Tain' Watts' unpredictable drums to complement Dease's soulful delivery.
Deeper into Disc 1, "Catalyst" is strong on atmosphere, as... read more
Deep Blue Organ Trio - Folk Music
by Todd Lazarski, All Headline News
Hipsters attuned to the wave of highbrow, dance-friendly grooves resurrected by modern Hammond B-3 trios such as Soulive and Medeski Martin and Wood may do very well to seek out some of the last old-school purveyors of organ-centered soul jazz: Chicago's Deep Blue Organ Trio can cite references on their collective resume that would span the likes of Miles Davis and Kenny Burrell; and on their latest, "Folk Music," the sound is as fresh as this... read more
Nancy Kelly - Be Cool
by Thierry De Clemensat, Paris Move
If you're a lover of classic jazz in its most timeless form, this album will feel like home. Don't expect reinvention—expect excellence. What you'll find is a luminous voice, perfectly poised, supported by world-class musicians who elevate each familiar melody into something quietly sublime. It's an album made for the sheer pleasure of listening, where every note lands with grace and assurance, and the mood is unhurried, elegant, and... read more
Human Spirit - Dialogue
by Nick DeRiso, Something Else!
Human Spirit, a newly named Seattle-based jazz group with a lengthy history, offers an old-fashioned guest star-packed blowing session on Dialogue, recorded live at Tula's Jazz Club during Earshot Jazz Festival in October of last year.
The band's core trio of trumpeter Thomas Marriott (composer of half of the album's eight tunes), altoist Mark Taylor and drummer Matt Jorgensen are joined by Orrin Evans at the piano and Essiet... read more
Rodney Whitaker - All Too Soon: The Music of Duke Ellington
by George W Harris, Jazz Weekly
When in doubt, keep with the classics. That's what bassist Rodney Whitaker does in delving into jazz's greatest composer and giving eternal songs a modern touch. Whitaker brings together a strong team in trumpet legend Brian Lynch along wit Diego Rivera/ts, Michael Dease/tb,Richard Roe/p, Karriem Riggins-Kavon Gordon and guest vocalist Rockelle Whitaker.
Whitaker's thick and palpable tone is a work of art itself, and it's used well leading... read more
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