It's easier to impress listeners with virtuosity than subtlety and nuance, but thankfully there are those who take the road less traveled. Along the Way, the second release by Scenes, is the result of three musicians being comfortable in their own skins and having nothing to prove. The vibe may be relaxed and the delivery spacious, but this music proves that one should never mistake comfort for complacency.
Guitarist John Stowell has had a... read more
Known primarily as Sonny Rollins' sideman, guitarist Bobby Broom has put out a few discs on his own, and this latest one might be his best one yet. Spaciously accompanied by Dennis Carrol (bass) and Kobie Watkins (drums), Broom grooves through a set of cleverly selected tunes, and makes them swing and sway. Clever arrangements of The Beatles' "Can't Buy Me Love" and "The Little Rascals Theme" make these pieces seem like logical jazz standards.... read more
Seattle-based jazz pianist and singer Dawn Clement's back with a new album, Break. I just hope she doesn't wait another five years between albums. I reviewed Hush, her debut as a leader, back in 2003, remarking that she "eloquently shares space with her bandmates ? but her solo excursions show her capable of emulating a whole band, condensing, expanding, and rippling lines on her right side and mining new rhythms on her left." She's still all... read more
4-STARS A piano trio led by a drummer? While that may not always be The Natural Order of Things, it is here. The drummer is the veteran Ted Moore, his teammates the talented pianist Phil Markowitz and rock-solid bassist Kai Eckhardt. Moore composed and arranged (almost) all of the music, which enlivens themes from Brazil and Spain, embraces the classical canon, and embodies earnest tributes to Chick Corea and Miles Davis / Joe... read more
Scenes, a trio of guitarist John Stowell, bassist Jeff Johnson, and drummer John Bishop, typically plays straight-ahead modern jazz, though Stowell has a peculiar form of voicing in a guitar trio setting that imbues the music with a spectral presence, as if he isn't stating a melody so much as suggesting that its there. That tends to make for a cerebral experience that balances well with the trio's inherent warmth. Hans Teuber guests on sax... read more
Certain songs from the past seem to address present troubles. Or perhaps those troubles never went away. Jazz vocalist Cathy Segal-Garcia presents her own renditions of a few of these songs on her new album, beginning with Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth," a song that has popped up a lot lately, especially after the police's response to Black Lives Matter protests, and after authorities attacked peaceful protesters in D.C. so that the... read more
The LaBarbera brothers are a distinguished trio. Saxophonist Pat (Elvin Jones, Buddy Rich) is a mentor to a generation of Canadian saxophonists. Drummer Joe recorded with Bill Evans, Tony Bennett and Kenny Wheeler as well as Charlottesville's Stephanie Nakasian. John LaBarbera, trumpeter and arranger wrote for Buddy Rich for years and is the leader for this date. Nicholas F Mondello wrote on AllAboutJazz, "Wes Montgomery's Grooveyard... read more
In the recent history of music, the term "mainstream" when associated with playing in the style of Jazz has attracted somewhat negative connotations which, although sometimes justified, is probably just as well especially in the case of this Thomas Morgan recording entitled Romance Language. His music certainly prepares the way for something we might suggest is a trend towards the "neo-Romantic" - even, that is, when "swing" becomes a part of... read more
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.
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