Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Dave Slonaker Big Band - Convergency
by George W Harris, Jazz Weekly
Big band leader Dave Slonaker brings together a collection of some of the West Coast's top session studs to interpret his charts and tunes on this collection of mostly originals. The only cover is a velvety rendition of "I Had The Craziest Dream" that gives trumpeter Wayne Bergeron a chance to give a rich aria. Many of the tunes have an Aaron Copland type of majesty, with rich section work on the swinging "Convergency" or elegiac harmonies on "A... read more
Marlene Rosenberg - MLK Convergence
by Hrayr Attarian, Chicago Jazz Magazine
Both as an educator and mentor to younger generations, as well as an accomplished composer and bassist, Marlene Rosenberg is a mainstay of Chicago's creative music scene. Her rich and varied career playing with such greats as saxophonist Joe Henderson and drummer Ed Thigpen is not as well documented on recordings as it could be. In fact, there are only a handful of releases with her as a side musician and four under her own leadership. The... read more
Clay Giberson - Upper Road
by Marty Hughley, The Oregonian
Best of 2002: Top of the Portland pop
01/03/03
"Upper Road," Clay Giberson (Origin Records): A young jazz pianist who plays in Dan Balmer's Go By Train trio, Giberson's previous solo album, "Mirador," was a strong straight-ahead set. Here, though, he fashions a more contemporary sound that has the intelligence, lyricism, depth and accessibility to appeal to fans of, say, Pat Metheny. Balmer, drummer Carlton Jackson and others lend a hand,... read more
Jim Norton Collective - Time Remembered: Compositions of Bill Evans
by Pierre Giroux, Audiophile Audition
Often overlooked by his brilliant pianistic skills, Bill Evans' efforts as a composer were impressive although they were more often harmonically intriguing, rather than accessible. Jim Norton has brought his impressive arranging skills to bear on a diverse selection of Evans material to create a sound pallet that delights the ear in his release Time Remembered: Compositions Of Bill Evans.
Among the compositions that Norton and the band have... read more
Richard Sussman - Continuum
by George Fendel, Jazz Society of Oregon
When CDs contain mostly or exclusively original music, I look for one primary characteristic. If I can't find it, the CD is usually not a prime candidate for review. It's as simple as...a well-defined melody. If that's old-fashioned, so be it. But I lose my sense of direction when I can't discern a melody as a foundation for the improvisation which follows. I know nothing of Richard Sussman other than he's probably a New Yorker (judging from the... read more
Jeff Johnson - Near Earth
by Dan McClenaghan, All About Jazz
The trio format without a chording instrument (a guitar or keyboard) tends to loosen the atmosphere, giving the music a more fluid feel. Bassist Jeff Johnson, joined by saxophonist Hans Teuber and drummer Tad Britton, achieves a compelling chamber-like fluidity on Near Earth.
Teuber's tenor saxophone approach here has a clean, clear, bracingly cool feel on its interplay with with Johnson's round bass lines and the intricate textures from... read more
Jim Norton Collective - Time Remembered: Compositions of Bill Evans
by Jerome Wilson, Cadence
It's always intriguing when a musician's compositions are played by a group where the composer's instrument is nowhere to be heard. So it is here with a CD of Bill Evans works, both obscure and familiar, played by a large band with nary a piano around. This treatment helps you realize how strong Evans' writing was in the first place.
Jim Norton's approach comes close to the old Third Stream discipline. Classical voicings are combined with... read more
Chad McCullough - Dark Wood, Dark Water
by Jerome Wilson, Cadence
The leader of Dark Wood, Dark Water, Chad McCullough, is a trumpeter who wrote all his disc's original material which is mostly at slow to moderate tempos. He comes up with lovely insinuating melodies. The slowly pulsing "Lock Down" and the woozy "Bock's Car" demonstrate the blowzy, lyrical beauty of McCullough's playing as well as the quick-silver piano decorations of Bill Anschell. "Home" is a lovely waltz soulfully explored by saxophonist... read more
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