Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Carlos Vega - Art of the Messenger
by Paul Abella, WDCB, Chicago
Carlos Vega's Art of the Messenger might very well end up being a contender for one of my favorite albums of the year. And when you dissect the pieces, it's easy to understand why. First, start off with a who's who of young(ish) Jazz players in Chicago - Vega plays tenor sax and writes the songs. Victor Garcia is the trumpet player, Stu Mindeman is on piano, Josh Ramos is on bass and Xavier Breaker is playing the drums. Second, write some... read more
Kelly Sill / Jim McNeely / Joel Spencer - Boneyard
by Jack Bowers, All About Jazz.com
Jim McNeely, Kelly Sill and Joel Spencer have been performing together, whenever time and opportunity allowed, since they first met at the University of Illinois more than thirty years ago but had never recorded as a unit until now. After hearing Boneyard many listeners may be wondering why, as it's about as tasteful and charming as a piano-led trio album can be.
Pianist McNeely, a Chicagoan who is perhaps best known as music director of New... read more
Tim Davies Big Band - Dialmentia
by Ric Bang, The Davis Enterprise
You don't often encounter drummers who are also composers, arrangers and producers; Tim Davies is a member of that relatively small fraternity.
He also leads a really big band that usually features (according to his web site) "a mixture of jazz, hip-hop and death metal." It's certainly all of that. The cadre includes nine reeds, eight trumpets, four trombones, two guitarists, two bassists, two keyboardists - I assume these pairs split duties... read more
Brittany Anjou - Enamigo Reciprokataj
by Alex Dutilh, France Musiques
The first major album of the young New York pianist and composer Brittany Anjou, is a suite in five parts composed around esperanto, the international "built" language.
As for the English title of Brittany Anjou's album, "Reciprocal Love", which becomes "Enamiĝo Reciprokataj" (pronounced En-äh-mee-joh Reh-sih-pro-kah-tye ), the same goes for for the traditional language of jazz piano. She likes to translate it into something very... read more
Giacomo Gates - Centerpiece
by Elliott Simon, All About Jazz/New York
A product of vocally imitating complex bop solos, vocalese grew into a respectable singular art form under its most famous practitioners, King Pleasure and Eddie Jefferson. On the swinging Centerpiece, Giacomo Gates uses these two giants as touchstones and makes the genre his own.
In addition to his deep, rich tonal quality, Gates' impressive vocal arsenal includes whistling, scat and mood-inducing intros. He uses these talents to lead us... read more
John Stowell / Michael Zilber - Basement Blues
by Dan McClenaghan, All About Jazz
Basement Blues is the third Origin Records CD offering from the John Stowell/Michael Zilber Quartet, following Shot Through With Beauty (2009) and Live Beauty, (2013). Guitarist Stowell's approach is distinctive - silvery chords and pinprick single notes that reverberate from the rafters. Saxophonist Zilber is a flawless, soulful technician on soprano and tenor saxophones. Bassist John Shifflett and drummer Jason Lewis are perfection in the... read more
Emi Meyer - Monochrome
by Bobby Reed, Downbeat
With her U.S. debut, Monochrome, singer-songwriter Emi Meyer has crafted a gem that will greatly expand her international fan base. Born in Kyoto to a Japanese mother and an American father, the Tokyo-based Meyer has released several albums in Japan, and her music has appeared on the soundtrack to Japanese director Nobuhiro Doi's film Flying Colors and in the States on the TV shows Awkward and Younger. Though Meyer has often sung... read more
Anthony Branker & Ascent - Dance Music
by Jennifer Odell, Downbeat Magazine
★★★ � On his third Ascent project, Princeton University educator Anthony Branker challenges preconceptions that a composer's erudition might impinge upon accessibility. From the humming bird-paced piano and horn vamp that opens the rousing "The House Of Brotherhood Of The Black Heads" to Tia Fuller's blistering solo on "The Renewal," Branker inspires buoyant, animated performances from his sextet. Bassist Kenny Davis and... 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