Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
John Bishop - Antwerp
by Dan McClenaghan, All About Jazz
4 1/2 STARS - BEST ALBUMS OF 2023 Drummer John Bishop, the guy who runs Seattle's Origin Records, does not often put out records under his own name. There was Nothing If Not Something (Origin Records) in 2005, review here, and then nothing until the disc at hand, 2023's Antwerp. Not that Bishop has avoided the recording studio. He is, as a sideman, in fact quite prolific, sitting in on Hal Galper's string of... read more
Tito Carrillo - Urbanessence
by Paul Rauch, All About Jazz
Trumpeter Tito Carillo's second bite of the apple on Origin was more than a decade in the making, following up his outstanding first release, Opening Statement (Origin, 2011). With Urbanessence (Origin, 2022), the Chicago-based artist is truly up to the task, producing a work which is an homage to everyday life in the city. The narrative makes the point that cities are home to creators, visionaries and an army of people who are... read more
Shawn Purcell - 180
by Bob Weinberg, Jazziz
Like so many jazz guitarists, Shawn Purcell was awed by the playing of Pat Martino, whose classic album El Hombre truly opened his ears to the possibilities of the guitar-organ trio. And certainly, Martino's influence echoes throughout 180 (Origin), the Washington, D.C.-based Purcell's most recent release. Teaming up with organ virtuoso Pat Bianchi and drum phenom Jason Tiemann, Purcell explores and updates the dynamics of the classic organ... read more
Rodney Whitaker - Outrospection: The Music of Gregg Hill
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record
Scooting out of the classroom for a hot second with several of the professors under him, Whitaker gives a full album to the works of up and comer Gregg Hill who already feels like a jazz old soul. The music is rooted in civil rights jazz, which certainly has a place in these times, and is delivered in proper fashion by the pros on board. A real ear opener that's good for the... read more
Peter Erskine & the JAM Music Lab All-Stars - Bernstein in Vienna
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect
The inimitable drummer Peter Erskine and his excellent company celebrate the work of Leonard Bernstein, where his fondness for Vienna is front and center across these 8 in depth songs.
The frisky "Somewhere" starts the set started with Erskine's fluid drums amid Danny Grissett's glowing keys and Andreas Varady's warm guitar, and "I Feel Pretty" follows with a playful spirit via Bertl Mayer's upbeat harmonica and Robert Unterkofler's lively... read more
David Friesen with Orchestra and Quartet - Testimony
by Paul de Barros, DownBeat
When David Friesen accompanied reed man Paul Horn on his historic 1983 tour to the Soviet Union, the eclectic Portland bassist was thrilled the trip might take him to what was then the Soviet Socialist Republic of Ukraine. Friesen's mother was raised in Smila, 18 miles west of Ukraine's Dnieper River, now a battle-torn front in the Russian war.
"A film crew was going to take us to Smila," Friesen recalled, "but the week before we left, they... read more
Marius Nordal - Boomer Jazz
by Harvey Siders, JazzTimes
Solo piano is the ultimate challenge: you're all alone, excerpt for those 88 keys flashing their ivories. No other horn waiting to pick up the melodic slack, no additional rhythm guys keeping time. Yet solo piano is a mixed blessing. You assume full responsibility to call the shots: you set the metronome, fall back on rubato whenever the mood strikes, and re-harmonize all over the keyboard without feeling guilty. Final interpretation is up to... read more
Jaiman Crunk - Encounters
by Scott Yanow, scottyanow.com
Part of a musical family, guitarist Jaiman Crunk grew up in the San Francisco Bay area, spent years living in Europe, and is now based in Seattle. Encounters is his recording debut and it is a particularly impressive effort for Crunk, both as a guitarist and as a composer.
The personnel and instrumentation change from song-to-song on Encounters. But although many all-stars are scattered throughout the eight selections, the program has a... read more
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