Here's a debut album from a trombonist with a lot of warmth and promise. Nanami Haruta hits the ground running on this al bum with Michael Dease/tb-bars, Xavier Davis/p, Rodney Whitaker/b, Ulysses Owens Jr/dr and guest Chris Minami/g on a mix of originals and coves. Haruta shows off her glowing tone on a gloriously Spartan take of "Unchained Melody" as well as dressing up in velvet on her own "Toshi". She flows with Dease's baritone on "Girlie's... read more
With musicians like Hal Galper, everything takes on different meanings . Associate of Chet Baker, Sam Rivers. Stan Getz, Lee Konitz, Joe Williams, Anita O'Day and Chris Connor, a few years old member of the famous Cannonball Adderley Quintet and permanent member Phil Woods Quintet have never known the fame of their appreciated colleagues. From the time I heard Sam Rivers' A New Conception (1966, Blue Note), I knew I was dealing with a... read more
Back in 1965, Clifford Jordan recorded an album of songs written by Leadbelly called "These Are My Roots". The album recast several folk tunes and blues in a modern jazz style without losing the flavor of the original songs. When Chicago tenor saxophonist Geof Bradfield was asked to recreate a classic jazz album of his choosing for a local concert series, he chose the Jordan album, and on his new CD, "Our Roots", he reprises four of those tracks... read more
Much of the jazz art form in contained in obscure artifacts preserved, against all odds, from the clutches of oblivion. That is the story behind this album, well told in Neil Tesser's liner notes. It goes something like this: In 1978, pianist-composer Richard Sussman made an LP called 'Free Fall' on Inner City. It had an afterlife as a kind of underground classic. Susman's intriguing compositions clearly provoked and inspired trumpeter Tom... read more
Fifteen songs never had it so good. Unpredictable and inventive are but two descriptions of this pure jazz singer. He will actually have you sitting on the edge of your seats as you hear the varied examples of his uncanny vocal range. He reminds me of Mark Murphy and the late Eddie Jefferson. Far from ordinary, Mr. Gates' knack of embellishing the standards makes him extraordinary; he's never dull or boring. His first song, "Summertime"... read more
"Cathy Segal-Garcia is a national treasure. She is warm and witty, absolutely delightful."
She paired up with pianist Phillip Strange for their duo's performance in Osaka, Japan in December of 1992 and it now comes to us as Live in Japan, a wonderful 2-disc album capturing the warm and memorable performance.
From the playful introductions through an array of Christmas selections and Jazz standards to the joyous finale, Cathy and Phil... read more
A whiff of glorious, old-time New Orleans jazz in "Free to be Me" jubilantly launches Benny Powell's latest, Nextep. Yet be assured the set is no trip down nostalgia lane. A working musician since his early teens in New Orleans, bop loyalist and a veteran sideman at hundreds of recording sessions with the likes of everyone from Count Basie and Frank Sinatra to Aretha Franklin and "Screamin'" Jay Hawkins, at 78, Nextep is Powell's bid finally to... read more
***1/2 (3.5 stars)
Anger and injustice are strong themes on composer and conductor Anthony Branker's new album. Knowing the backstory of Branker's compositions, told in his lengthy liner notes, is essential to a complete understanding of the project, though the funky performances on the primarily instrumental recording are not nearly as frustrated.
"Let's Conversate!" bounces alongside Jim Ridl's Fender Rhodes, while Kenny Davis holds down a... 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