Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Zem Audu - Spirits
by Dave Rogers, WTJU, Richmond
Nigerian-born, London-raised, tenor sax player Zem Audu presents his own take on funky soul or fusion jazz. Having first explored piano and guitar, Audu eventually settled on sax and studied with Courtney Pine as well as with Jean Toussaint at Trinity College of Music. This is his second release as a leader. He composed all of the songs on the disc, which also features Mike Stern (guitar), Benito Gonzales (piano), Ben Williams (bass) and John... read more
Piet Verbist - Suite Réunion
by Alex W. Rodriguez, Downbeat
***
Jazz musicians know a thing or two about grueling travel schedules. Belgian bassist Piet Verbist, a veteran of two decades of jazz globetrotting, draws from the experience and gathers longtime friends for Suite Réunion, an album that exudes effervescence throughout as pieces oscillate between cool, lyrical openness and upbeat swing.
"Mygratum" opens the recording with a heartfelt and lyrical exposition for solo bass that... read more
Christopher Icasiano - Provinces
by Georges Tonla Briquet, Jazz Halo (Belgium)
The American label Origin is mainly specialized in jazz based on tradition. With 'Provinces' they radically deviate from that course. You could say a kind of "close encounters of the unknown kind". The man who is responsible for this alone: multi-instrumentalist Christopher Icasiano.
The continuously drumming drums create an uncomfortable feeling from the start. With somewhat haunting Hans Zimmer soundscapes and relentlessly dark bass... read more
Courtney Fortune - Speak Love
by Adam Greenberg, All Music Guide
It's a little surprising for Seattle's Origin label, heavy on instrumentalists and local scene players, to take on a torch singer in its portfolio. However, L.A. area songstress Courtney Fortune shows stronger development than many of the average lounge singers, combining with contemporary big-band maestro Chris Walden for a number of compositions that highlight aspects outside of the standard jazz repertoire. Her self-penned "You're Starting to... read more
Chris Walden Big Band & The St. John's Choir - Kurt Marti Suite
by Dick Crockett, Bop 'n DIck's 10 Picks
How can an orchestration based on the verse of Kurt Marti can be so majestic and powerful, especially when the lyrics are sung in German by the St Johns Choir, Hamburg? For someone who doesn't understand the language, there's something more universal here with voice and orchestration with Chris Walden and his arrangements. Walden draws upon his resources and a big band arranger, writer and leader to create this, the musical voice of Kurt Marti.... read more
Hal Galper Quartet featuring Jerry Bergonzi - Cubist
by Doug Ramsey, Rifftides
In his album notes, pianist Galper writes that he was unaware of what "an interesting and unique composer" his longtime bass-playing associate Jeff Johnson is. The three pieces that Johnson contributed to Cubist leave no doubt about his writing ability. The title tune plus "Kiwi," "Artists" and "Scene West" give Galper, Johnson and drummer John Bishop plenty of challenging material. They make the most of it. Galper's post-bop credentials with... read more
Doug Beavers Orchestra - Jazz, Baby!
by Warren Truitt, kidsmusicthatrocks.blogspot.com
Imagine a Toddler Las Vegas, a Rat Pack of sippy cup totin' hipsters ... I'm pretty sure this would be the music they would be digging! Now, I've said before that if a kids' performer decides to record nursery rhymes or folk tunes, they'd better bring something different to the table. And much like Josh Levine's salsa-fest Josh Levine for Kids or Rockosaurus Rex's metalhead heaven The Big Bang, the Doug Beavers Rovira Jazz Orchestra does just... read more
Ben Thomas - Triskaidekaphobia
by George Fendel, Jazz Scene, November 2005
Right off the bad, let's get to this rather unwieldy title. According to the album notes, the group recorded an untitled tune in 13/4 time. Acknowledging the challenge of such a meter, one of the players stated "all the more reason to fear the number 13." And that, apparently, is what this 17 letter word means: fear of the number 13. Okay with me, although I couldn't find it in my dictionary. Anyway, it's nice to see a younger generation... read more
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