Friesen's virtuosity brought him to prominence as a bassist nearly fifty years ago. He has remained one of the instrument's most adventurous players through a career including associations with Duke Jordan, Marian McPartland, John Handy, Denny Zeitlin, Paul Horn and other major jazz artists. This two-CD album presents him on the first disc playing his compositions on the Homage bass, an instrument he developed. On some tracks in that CD he... read more
Jessica Williams has built a following with her introspective style of solo piano. Songs of Earth compiles performances from several years of her appearances at The Triple Door in Seattle, most of which were improvised on the spot. "Deayrhu" (a title she admits that she can't explain) is a fluid, shimmering work with several dramatic shifts. The bittersweet undercurrent of "Poem" (a written composition) is ever present, supported by its pacing... read more
Brad Goode has long experimented with using polychordal harmonies, as many jazz musicians have well before him, but prior to this recording session, the trumpeter's adventurous charts tended to overwhelm many of the players who worked with him. But this date freed Goode from the series of post-bop/hard bop/bop recordings that he had made in the past. Accompanied by guitarist Bill Kooper (who switches to sitar on some tracks), pianist/keyboardist... read more
The co-op team of Sergio Galvao/ts-ss, Lupa Santiago/g, Clement Landais/b and Franck Enouf/dr deliver 9 fresh originals. The feel is fluid and lithe, with Galvao's serene soprano on the tensile "Sans Gluten," or dancing along Landais' bass line on the lively "Rouen Donato." His warm tenor flows with Santiago's #2 pencil tone on the flowing "Traffic D'Affluence" or chomping and comping together on the mix of Memphis and Brazil during "Nao... read more
In 2019, after I'd been writing for DownBeat Magazine for about a decade, I was asked to review a batch of new albums from Brazil, including one by a Rio de Janeiro-based singer named Delia Fischer who wrote her own songs. I gathered that, in addition, she was a jazz pianist, an arranger, and the musical director for several hit musicals in Rio. She had worked with Brazilian legends like Marcos Valle, Egberto Gismonti, and Milton Nascimento, who... read more
When I was living at home, there were certain types of music that would cause my mother to knock on my bedroom door as she walked past and ask, "what are you listening to?" in a tone that seemed to wonder whether she had a reason to be worried. The Mayday Session is that type of music. It isn't particularly loud or jarring, but there are enough kinks and corners with who-knows-what on the other side of them to make the whole project vaguely... read more
Origin Records is an often overlooked label when in reality they have a stable of artists that are as technically proficient and artistically gifted as most any other label one can think of. The Jack Mouse Group is certainly no exception and with a distinguished musical resume including work with such luminaries as Kenny Burrell, Bob Mintzer, and Sheila Jordon it is easy to see this is not Mouse's first rodeo.
Jack Mouse has assembled what... read more
5-STARS If one of the vibraphone giants, a longtime dean of the Berklee College of Music, and also the man who helped Metheny in the beginning of his career - Gary Burton puts McCarthy the highest mark "extraordinary musical proficiency and unlimited imagination", it is difficult to pass this disc without interest. If we add three more names from the record - violinist Mark Feldman, guitarist Ben Monder and bass player Steve Swallow, we... read more
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.
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