Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Michael Waldrop - Native Son
by Olivia Peevas, Jazz Blues EU
Drummer, vibraphonist, and composer Michael Waldrop's on Native Son is an ambitious and diverse representation of his work, highlighted by a wide-ranging, cross-genre aesthetic and his wildly dynamic big band.
Inspired by the earthy and primal works of Cuban artist Wilfredo Lam, arranger Jack Cooper transformed three of Waldrop's compositions into an evocative and epic "Native Son," with the movements titled after three of his paintings.
A... read more
David Friesen - Structures
by Raul da Gama, JazzdaGama
One of the most significant musical advantages of the Hemage bass that is played by David Friesen is that its inner architecture enables him to extract an enormous palette of colours that appear to meld those of a contrabass and an electric bass guitar. The result is a seemingly dramatic increase in registers - he can reach higher registers and challenging lows while the bass still produces a faux-acoustic sound. This might also be a function... read more
Scenes - Trapeze
by Georges Tonla Briquet, Jazz'halo (Belgium)
Not a theater or circus act, but four seasoned musicians who almost hypothermic but with precision allow themselves the pleasure of making music together again for an hour. Again because they did this already in 2000. Tenor saxophonist Rick Mandyck opted to choose a different direction afterwards for health reasons, while guitarist John Stowell , bassist Jeff Johnson and drummer John Bishop continued as a trio and released several CDs. It sounds... read more
Marc Seales - American Songs, Volume 3: Time & Place
by Dick Metcalf, Improvijazzation
When your favorite tunes are those like "Pusherman", you'll find long hours of listening ahead in Marc's excellent keyboards on this great release! He's joined by guitarist Fred Hamilton, bassist Jeff Johnson, with Dave Captein on electric bass & Gary Hobbs on drums & they can COOK it! The other great thing about the recording is that it's all done right here on my home turf; a January 2015 release that you'll just want in your... read more
Deep Blue Organ Trio - Wonderful!
by Dan McClenaghan, All About Jazz
Chicago's Deep Blue Organ Trio mines one of popular soul artist Stevie Wonder's most fertile creative periods?the late sixties through the early seventies?on Wonderful!. The organ trio format is known for its unvarnished soulfulness, and the group's reverent treatment of these familiar hits gives a breezy lift to Wonder's always engaging and ebullient melodies.
Before about 1960 there was rhythm and blues in the record bins, which meant music... read more
Bobby Broom - Bobby Broom Plays for Monk
by Bill Milkowski, JazzTimes
Guitarist Broom, a long-time sideman to tenor titan Sonny Rollins, has released a series of exceptional trio recordings in which he explores, deconstructs and otherwise re-invents familiar pop material (2001's "Modern Man" and "Stand!" and 2007's "Song and Dance"). On this exemplary outing he investigates Monk's music, introducing some daring new arrangements while maintaining a reverence for the material.
"Evidence" opens with a grooving... read more
Steve Korn - Here and Now
by Jason West, Earshot Jazz
It's possible that the jazz fans of the next 1000 years will revisit the Seattle sound at the turn of this century. If so, John Bishop's independent label, Origin Records, will enjoy a number of reissues. Representing a small circle of local players, Origin’s catalog sports over a dozen releases, the most recent being one of the best: Steve Korn’s "Here and Now."
For his initial recording as a leader Korn plays with two of his... read more
Darren Johnston - Life in Time
by Jack Bowers, All About Jazz
Brooklyn-based trumpeter Darren Johnston traveled to Chicago in May 2021 to record Life in Time with three of his favorite musicians: saxophonist Geof Bradfield, bassist Clark Sommers and drummer Dana Hall who form their own working trio in the Windy City. The generally charming studio date encompasses ten original compositions, six by Johnston, four by Bradfield.
Technically and musically, the foursome is splendid. What is missing—and it... read more
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