Origin Records Reviews

Storms/Nocturnes - VIA
by Mauretta Heinzelmann, NDR Radio, Germany "Album of the Week"

"Via", the new album by the trio "Storms / Nocturnes" is at all musical qualities, the most striking feature of the addiction factor: it looks forward to hearing it again and again, a positive atmosphere full of life rings through in almost every way. by casual virtuosity as well as by sensitive melodies are influenced piano, vibraphone and saxophone. an exceptional cast, the clear crystal chamber music as well as dense complex harmonics allows... read more

Matt Jorgensen - Tattooed by Passion: Music inspired by the paintings of Dale Chisman
by Adam Greenberg, All Music Guide

Music based on visual art is nothing new (many know of Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition if nothing else), but can be a mixed bag in terms of quality. Though both art forms can show improvisation and structure, musicians have to walk a fine line: too literal in their transcription of color and strength and they risk making terrible music; too free with the aesthetics of their own musical ideas and they risk ignoring the visual... read more

Big Neighborhood - 11:11
by Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

The co-op quartet Big Neighborhood performs catchy originals that stretch the modern mainstream of jazz. A particularly tight unit that has each of the four musicians thinking in similar directions, Big Neighborhood features concise solos, a colorful group sound, some tricky time signatures, and distinctive voices in altoist Chris Fagan and guitarist David White (who also plays guitar synthesizer). All of the music on their two-CD release could... read more

Dave Slonaker Big Band - Shifty Paradigms
by Mark Griffith, Modern Drummer

Is there a busier drummer around than Peter Erskine? But as his schedule has gotten even busier, it seems that his playing has gotten less busy. And while there are many drummers in LA that can drive a big band through tricky charts, no one does it better than Peter Erskine. As I said in his Modern Drummer Legends book, I don't think that Peter Erskine has ever made a bad record. He always seems to give the music what it needs, and Shifty... read more

Jonas Tauber - Storm Walking Singing
by Joshua Kline, Double Bassist

Recorded before a live audience at Cafe 26 in Switzerland, Storm Walking Singing comprises mainly original improvised solo pieces performed by bassist Jonas Tauber. Such is the level of intensity and conviction of Tauber's playing that one has to remind oneself that this is just one man and his double bass. His ambitious approach to the instrument compounds the impression that there is an ensemble rather than a soloist at play.

Particularily... read more

John Stowell | Ulf Bandgren Quartet - Night Visitor
by Dave Rogers, WTJU - Richmond

Guitarists John Sowell and Ulf Bandgren last recorded together five years ago, but they renew their wonderful interplay and compatibility as if there has been no time gap. Larry Coryell further amplifies, "John Stowell plays jazz, but he doesn't use any of the cliches; he has an incredible originality. John is a master creator." The performance is enhanced even more by the rhythm section: Bruno Raberg (bass, composed four songs on this disc) and... read more

Hal Galper - Live at the Berlin Philharmonic, 1977
by Cedric Hendrix, Cirdec Songs

This record can really be summed up in two words: IN-SANE!!! Not only is Hal Galper an amazing pianist with a raw aggressive tone one might compare to Keith Jarrett, but his inclusion of the legendary Brecker brothers (Randy on trumpet and flugelhorn and Michael on tenor sax) was nothing short of inspired. Everyone is given an equal chance to shine, and no one wastes his opportunity. Bassist Wayne Dockery and drummer Bob Moses are equally rock... read more

Doug Beavers 9 - Two Shades of Nude
by Ric Erben, Jazz Junction Review

Trombonist Doug Beavers has released an outstanding album that features spirited arrangements and soloing upon original compositions as well as music from other jazz composers. In Phil Woods parlance, this is a "little big band" as the instrumentation achieves a rich tonal pallet, sounding both tight and loose at the same time. Beavers has played in the Mingus Big Band and toured with Eddie Palmieri; and has found inspiration in the works of... read more

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