Although German pianist - now Canada-based - Florian Hoefner has played at festivals throughout Europe, appeared on 10 previous recordings and toured extensively in the US and Canada, he's not as well known in Australia. This new album by his quartet, recorded in New York, features Australian bassist Sam Anning, with drummer Peter Kronreif and saxophonist Seamus Blake. These eight tracks display Hoefner's composing ability and his stunning... read more
The music and the song flow profusely from the gifted hands of Mimi Fox on Standards. As she proves throughout, anybody who can breathe so much new life into yet another version of "All Blues," and truly make the number her own, can PLAY. Done wisely on an acoustic guitar, the choice of so many of the early bluesman, the number is first cast as a Delta blues with Fox scat singing in unison with some bad solo blues lines. Symmetrically, modern... read more
An innovative German cool school guitarist whose idea of cool school is laid back Wes rather than standard ECM, he comes in with a solid set of jazz for the mind that any fan of sitting down jazz will recognize as top shelf. Well played and well planned, this is certainly a guitar player of note leading the... read more
David Friesen's working trio, with pianist Greg Goebel and drummer Charlie Doggett, has released a 2-disc live set, with guest guitarist Larry Koonse on nine of the nineteen tracks. The trio tracks are from a 2013 set in Germany and a 2014 set in Portland, OR, with Koonse added for a 2013 date in Tempe, AZ. On disc, the songs switch back and forth between trio and quartet; all are composed by the leader. Opening the first disc is the bright and... read more
Guitarist Corey Christiansen gets rockin' with Zach Lapidus/key, Jeremy Allen/b, Matt Jorgensen/dr and Michael Spiro/perc on this mix of new and traditional Americana. The team flows on a relaxed and bluesy "Shenandoah" with graceful strums on the strings, while Christiansen picks and grins on "John Hardy" the team boogie's on "Old Joe Clark" and sounds swampy as they go deep in the delta with Christiansen's steel strings on "Beour." Where's... read more
Given the strength of his husky voice, it seems appropriate that Gates spent more than a dozen years working on the Alaska Pipeline. It was a local arts festival and a chance encounter with Sarah Vaughn that encouraged him to pursue a music career in the late 1980's.
"In this kind of music, it's about intention, honesty and what comes through in your voice. The experience of life," he says. "Chet Baker didn't have a great range, but wow, when... read more
Bassist Marlene Rosenberg leads a hell of a trio here - one that features Kenny Barron on piano and Lewis Nash on drums - both tremendous players who sound even better in the round, rich company of Rosenberg's bass! Most titles are trio numbers, but driven as much by the bass as by the always-wonderful work of Barron - and the tunes include many originals by Marlene - instrumentals, but with a current of the more righteous energy... read more
A Worldly Soundtrack: Mattan Klein and Ezequiel Hezi Jait's "Countryside Motorways" Offers a Panoramic Jazz Journey. 4-STARS
Composer and flutist Mattan Klein, a man of many cultures and wide musical reach, is the creative force behind ZurHub, a genre-defying collective of musicians that draws from far more than its Israeli roots. Co-founded in 2017 with guitarist Ezequiel Hezi Jait, the ensemble is the fruit of years of... 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