Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Rodney Whitaker - Mosaic: The Music of Gregg Hill
by Editor, JAZZIZ Magazine
To paraphrase iconic soul vocalist James Brown's shout-outs to his drummers, give the bassist some — if it's Rodney Whitaker. As is the case with rhythmic instruments, including drums, playing the upright double bass doesn't often result in celebrity. But the 57-year-old Detroit native has crafted a prolific 40-year recording career as a session musician and a leader, including on his latest release, Mosaic: The Music of Gregg Hill (Origin),... read more
Phil Kelly - Ballet of the Bouncing Beagles
by Kyle O'Brien, Jazz Society of Oregon
The Northwest doesn't have a lot of big bands, so this group that composer/arranger Kelly has pulled together is a welcome sound for our little corner of the universe. Who cares that half the players are from elsewhere? Bellingham resident Kelly has enlisted some L.A. and New York cats, like saxophonists Jerry Dodgion and Pete Christlieb, and Dallas players Randy Lee and Pete Brewer. Throw in Portland drummer Gary Hobbs, noted Seattle trumpeter... read more
George Colligan - The Endless Mysteries
by Brent Black, Critical Jazz
George Colligan serves up an interesting if not slightly eclectic offering to offer a breath of fresh air to the all too predictable jazz trio format.
George Colligan is a lunch pail pianist, he works incredibly hard. A diligent performer, teacher and over all student of music himself, Colligan has had the good fortune to develop a long association with iconic drummer Jack DeJohnette as well as an incredibly poor choice in one... read more
Meridian Odyssey - Second Wave
by Dan McClenaghan, All About Jazz
Seattle's Origin Records opened 2021 on a hopeful, turning-of-the-page note with Second Wave, by the group Meridian Odyssey. The band comprised five young (twenty-something) Seattle-ites who took advantage of the time on their collective hands, and the low air fares resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, to journey to Alaska, where guitarist Martin Budde's father—a pilot—owns an airplane hangar which served as a recording studio. Where the... read more
Corey Christiansen - La Proxima
by Georges Tonla Briquet, Jazz Halo (Belgium)
On his latest CD 'La Proxima' the American guitarist Corey Christiansen links a modern sharp sound to Cuban polyrhythmics.
By delving into various grooves and rhythms, he inevitably ended up with African roots and traditions. Hence towards Cuba is another logical step. Christiansen himself admits that he had not pretended to make an Afro-Cuban record. He just gets his inspiration from it and then does his thing with it.
He flirts openly... read more
Michael Dease - City Life: Music of Gregg Hill
by Arturo Pepe, Tracce di Jazz
A double disc of absolute substance is the one given to us by trombonist Michael Dease, born in 1982, a native of Augusta, Georgia, as well as his main mentor from Georgia, his colleague Wycliffe Gordon, older by a generation, a sort of institution in the field. Even Dease for several years can be considered as a true eminence of the instrument, although his name, in spite of the continuous placements in the DownBeat, won five times, is not very... read more
Kelly Harland - Twelve Times Romance
by Christopher Loudon, JazzTimes, May 2003
Through no real fault of her own, fellow Seattleite Kelly Harland fares less well with her debut effort, Twelve Times Romance (Origin). Harland, who closely resembles actress Teri Garr, has a fresh, sunny sound garnished with a healthy dollop of Lena Horne's phrasing. The former backup singer and respected vocal coach handles a broad spectrum of standards, ranging from the plaintive regret of "Too Late Now" to the Broadway bravado of "I... read more
Scott Burns - Passages
by George Fendel, Jazzscene, Nov 06
A new name to me; one could indeed say that Scott Burns, in a jazz parlance, burns. His eight original tunes played here run the gamut from dreamy ballads to hard bop burners (there's that word again). With a rhythm section of Ron Perrillo, piano; Dennis Carroll, bass and George Fludas, drums, Burns, sounding a bit like Eric Alexander, hits the bullseye.... 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