Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Shawn Purcell - Oblivity
by Thierry De Clemensat, Paris Move
4 1/2 STARS
For nearly two decades, guitarist and composer Shawn Purcell served in military music ensembles, an experience that almost certainly shaped his meticulous sense of orchestration and his instinct for placing instruments in the precise order and hierarchy needed to evoke a particular mood. In Purcell's hands, it is always about beauty and elegance: music that is at once intricate and painstakingly crafted, where the... read more
Mimi Fox Organ Trio - One for Wes
by Jack Bowers, All About Jazz
4-STARS To mark the hundredth anniversary of the great Wes Montgomery's birth in March 1923, guitarist Mimi Fox has recorded One for Wes, an earnest tribute that consists of eight Montgomery-inspired tunes adeptly performed by Fox's San Francisco Bay-area organ trio with Brian Ho on Hammond B3 and Lorca Hart on drums.
As one might expect, there is a lot of blues, emotion and reverence in play, none of which detracts from the trio's... read more
Doug Beavers 9 - Two Shades of Nude
by Ric Bang, Jazz Scan
Several years ago, trombonist/composter/arranger Doug Beavers released his excellent debut album: Jazz, Baby, a compilation of children's tunes, rearranged in a big band jazz format. Two Shades Of Nude, his sophomore release, illustrates how far he has advanced in the interim.
Beavers' instrumental skills continue to be exceptional, and his talents as a composer and arranger have improved remarkably. He's working with a nonet on this... read more
Kelly Brand Nextet - The Door
by Brad Walseth, www.jazzchicago.net
It sometimes astounds me, when I hear local musicians whose talent is world class, and yet they are perhaps not very well known outside the boundaries of Chicago, although they should be. Case in point is pianist/composer Kelly Brand, who is known to the jazz fans of Chicago, but deserves a much wider audience based on her stellar playing and composition skills. If there is any justice in the world, her new nextet recording "The Door" will open... read more
Amit Friedman - Sunrise
by George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly
Here's a guy that keeps with the jazz groove and sounds, but adds some exciting new ideas along the way. Amit Friedman plays tenor, soprano and flute, and teams up with a band that sounds fairly normal, with a pianist (Omri Mor), bassist (Gilad Abro), drummer (Amir Bresler) and percussionist (Rony Iwryn), but stirs the pot a bit with the addition of Amos Hoffman, who includes the guitar and oud, the Middle Eastern acoustic guitar. The mix of... read more
Milan Verbist Trio - Time Change
by Thierry De Clemensat, Paris Move
5 STARS Milan Verbist: A Debut from Belgium's Crossroads of Culture.
Milan Verbist, pianist and composer, arrives from the small but culturally layered kingdom of Belgium with a debut album that feels less like a beginning and more like the confident statement of an artist whose voice has been maturing for years. Belgium, after all, is not one culture but three: a Francophone community, a small German-speaking enclave, and the... read more
speak - Speak
by Jay Collins, Cadence
Too often, the Jazz press laments the lack of mentorship in Jazz, with too many musicians coming right out of the conservatory without continuing oversight from more seasoned musicians. While the youngish 40 year old Cuong Vu might seem an unlikely "Jazz Elder," various playing experiences with the likes of many cutting-edge New York City groups, as well as big names like Pat Metheny or Laurie Anderson, seem to have prepared him for this course.... read more
Emma Larsson - Sing To the Sky
by Christopher Loudon, JazzTimes
Listening to Emma Larsson, it's hard not to be reminded of the young Nancy Wilson. The Swedish-born, New York-based singer, now three albums into what promises to be an impressive career, mirrors Wilson's silken delivery and her sly interpretative sass. Yet beneath that elegant surface is a tiger ready to spring, a jazz-savvy adventuress worthy of Abbey Lincoln or Betty Carter. While her previous discs teamed her with a trio of top-drawer... 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