Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Michael Dease - The Other Shoe: The Music of Gregg Hill
by Ted Panken, All About Jazz
ALBUM LINER NOTES by Ted Panken:
"Think of any big city," Greg Hill says, introducing the narrative armature of his composition, "The Other Shoe," the denouement and title track of this stimulating collaboration with Michael Dease, who arranged each of Hill's 10 compositions contained herein. "It's 2 in the morning, you're still awake, and your neighbor comes in upstairs. You hear the first clunk when his shoe hits the floor. Then you... 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
Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra - The Endless Search
by George Fendel, Oregon Jazz Scene
Please don't refer to them as a big band. About five minutes with this recording, and you'll agree that this is a jazz orchestra. Boasting many of Seattle's top-flight jazz cats, the SRJO presents here the recorded debut of Jimmy Heath's remarkable new suite in three movements, "The Endless Search." Commissioned and first performed by the SRJO in 2006, sax legend Heath is on hand to personally provide vigorous solo work. These charts are... read more
Hal Galper & the Youngbloods - Live at the Cota Jazz Festival
by Ed Hazell, Jazziz
Pianist Hal Galper and his quartet play melodic post-bop with a slippery rhythmic foundation. It's music that surprises the listener at every turn with fascinating details and tightly synchronized independent lines. Galper, who spent a decade with the hard-bopping bands of alto saxophonist Phil Woods, plays with a masterful, dancing touch and harmonies grounded in his bop experience. But he extends the tradition in interesting ways, as evidenced... read more
Clipper Anderson - Ballad of the Sad Young Men
by George Fendel, Oregon Jazz Scene
Anyone involved in Seattle's active jazz community knows respected bassist Anderson, a solid contributor for many years. But what about that "other" Clipper Anderson? I'll bet you didn't know about Clipper Anderson, the singer. In an era of "dime-a-dozen" female singers, how often do we encounter a male jazz singer? Not often, and that makes Anderson's debut vocal album all the more a winner. He conveys that "I've been there" feeling... read more
Diverse - Diverse
by Ken Dryden, All Music Guide
Diverse were formed while the bandmembers were studying in saxophonist Bobby Watson's jazz program at the University of Missouri at Kansas City. Four of the students formed a band while in school, wrote originals, sought gigs, and subsequently entered the 2008 Gene Harris Jazz Festival/Origin Records Jazz Competition, which they won, with this record date being the prize. Having done his own post-graduate work in Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers... read more
Brad Wheeler - The Future Was Yesterday
by Dan McClenaghan, All About Jazz
The Future Was Yesterday opens with a bass/drum knock and rumble, churning ahead with a loose momentum. A bit after a minute into the song "Inner Vision" the piano chords in with some gentle chimes, and you know right off you're listening to a hell of a rhythm section. Then Brad Wheeler blows into the mix on a robust and searching tenor, and you know you've got a hell of a saxophonist, too.
That opener has me thinking of the classic Coltrane... read more
Mitch Paliga - Fall Night
by John Barron, All About Jazz.com
On Fall Night, his second release as a leader, saxophonist Mitch Paliga showcases his well-defined soprano playing on seven of his original compositions. The Chicagoan is joined by keyboardist Jo Ann Daugherty, guitarist John McLean, bassist Patrick Williams and drummer Ryan Bennett.
The music on Fall Night has accessible leanings without sacrificing room for spontaneous development. Paliga tends to compose tightly-phrased, tonal themes atop... read more
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