Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Scenes - Rinnova
by Ken Dryden, All Music Guide
The trio Scenes, consisting of guitarist John Stowell, bassist Jeff Johnson, and drummer John Bishop, had been working together for nearly a decade by the time of their second recording session. Johnson and Bishop are very familiar from working with one another in pianist Hal Galper's trio as well, while Stowell is a refreshing change from guitarists who hog the spotlight with busy solos, opting instead to make ample use of space. Johnson... read more
John McLean - Better Angels
by Forrest Dylan Bryant, JazzTimes
Eclecticism is the name of the game on this flowing contemporary set, as guitarist McLean tackles swing standards, gloomy pop songs and three speedy, pulse-quickening original tunes. Alternating a precise, silvery acoustic sound with a biting electric tone, McLean matches nicely with Grazyna Auguscik's sweetly ethereal, delicately accented vocals. Saxophonist Jim Gailloreto adds buoyancy to several tunes, while organist Karl Montzka lurks in the... read more
Scott Reeves - Portraits and Places
by Chris Spector, Midwest Review
A flugelhorn player that has earned his spurs as an arranger and conductor while laboring in the vineyards for a long time for cats as disparate as Dave Liebman and Bob Brookmeyer, he knows his jazz and thanks those long gone for the music that inspired him as well as those still around that taught him. Not nearly a kid and playing like an adult, this is sitting down big band listening music that'll have you bobbing your head and tapping your... read more
John Moulder - Decade: Memoirs
by Raul da Gama, JazzDaGama
There is a dimension to John Moulder that is always deeply contemplative. It is often overshadowed by raucous nature of his guitar-playing, while exploring an idea through its expression of particularly vivid chordal - or even - single-note lines and phrases. However if one penetrates the membrane of his melodies a profound nature emerges in his compositions. Often this is even deeply spiritual, as in his music on Trinity (Origin, 2006) and... read more
Dan Dean - Songs Without Words
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record
Recording on Mercer Island and giving the first special thanks credit to Nancy Rumbel - do you think this is going to be your usual egghead classical date? The protean bass player surrounds himself with his ax and his voice and a mic taking warhorse repertoire to places you'd never imagine. Deciding to do it for himself this time around, the unquestionable bass ace takes it to church and everyplace else in the course of this sterling recital.... read more
David Weiss Sextet - Auteur
by Lance Liddle, BeBop Spoken Here (UK)
There have been a lot of excellent albums dished up for review this year and already the contenders for Album of the Year are amassing.
Auteur is one guaranteed to be in the shake-up. It's the kind of music I had in mind when I first started blogging all those years ago - bop, hard bop, post bop and beyond (albeit not too far beyond).
In his notes, Weiss states that, just like in politics, jazz has no middle anymore. adding that, unlike... read more
John Wojciechowski - Focus
by Paul Abella, WDCB
Let's start this week with Chicago based saxophonist John Wojciechowski and his new album Focus on Origin Records. He teams up with a monster of a rhythm section, pianist Ryan Cohan, bassist Dennis Carroll and drummer Dana Hall. Wojciechowski's a pretty aggressive player on the tenor, and from the get-go on this disc, it's clear he's not planning on taking any prisoners. With such a sympathetic rhythm section, he tears through every nook and... read more
Dave Slonaker Big Band - Intrada
by Jack Garner, Rochester Democrat & Chronicle
Big band, that rare and especially challenging and wonderfully rewarding form of jazz, gets a grand shot in the arm with this outing from noted jazz and film composer and arranger Dave Slonaker. Intrada features nine original tracks, and a sprightly take on "It's Only a Paper Moon." All 10 songs are given invigorating and creative arrangements and performances. And Rochesterians can be proud, because training at the Eastman School of Music... read more
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