Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
The Spin Quartet - In Circles
by George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly
The post bop quartet of Chad McCullough/tp-fh, Geof Bradfield/sax, Clark Sommers/b and Kobie Watkins/dr do some impressive work with clever and sophisticate originals. Without a piano as a safety net, the two horns weave in and out of unison like a high wire act, almost but never quite falling over as Sommers keeps things together on "Little Marionette" and "Simple Song." A hint of "All Blues" supplies the base for a yearning... read more
David Weiss Sextet - Auteur
by Lance Liddle, BeBop Spoken Here (UK)
There have been a lot of excellent albums dished up for review this year and already the contenders for Album of the Year are amassing.
Auteur is one guaranteed to be in the shake-up. It's the kind of music I had in mind when I first started blogging all those years ago - bop, hard bop, post bop and beyond (albeit not too far beyond).
In his notes, Weiss states that, just like in politics, jazz has no middle anymore. adding that, unlike... read more
Alison Ruble - Ashland
by Ken Dryden, All Music Guide
Vocalist Alison Ruble's second CD for Origin is much like her first effort, a mix of standards and pop with embellishments of folk and rock, with arrangements again by guitarist John McLean. Gifted with a warm alto voice, Ruble starts off with an intriguing take of "The Summer Knows" (remembered by many as Michel Legrand's haunting theme written for the early 1970s film "Summer of '42") that has a rich backdrop of acoustic guitar, alto flute,... read more
Bob Sneider & Joe Locke - Nocturne for Ava
by Mike Stratton, WLNZ East Lansing, Michigan
This is one of those CDs that I haven't been able to remove from my player since I first put it in. Trumpeter Sneider and vibist Locke have latched onto a concept of celebrating the music of noir; think black and white detective movies from the 50s, or doomed romance, murder, shadow, attitude. If this kind of stuff floats your boat, this is a must have CD. The album opens with Last Tango In Paris, a composition that immediately evokes the... read more
Dan McCarthy - City Abstract
by Georges Tonla Briquet, JazzHalo (Belgium)
The Canadian vibraphonist Dan McCarthy likes to color outside the lines. For example, on 'Let's Start The Show' he introduced a banjo into his musical universe, while 'Constellation' was a duo album with pianist Gordon Webster, all about free improvisation. On 'Epoch' he was joined by Steve Swallow, Ben Monder and Mark Feldman. "City Abstract" is a logical and equally adventurous sequel to which he casually honors Carla Bley ("Bleyto") and Gary... read more
Greta Matassa - The Smiling Hour
by Jay Collins, Cadence, Jan-Mar 2008
The thrid release from Seattle-based Greta Matassa, who delivers her ten-song opus on "The Smiling Hour," favors a smoky, whisper-like delivery that matches the ambiance of this mostly laid-back affair, though several tracks demonstrate her considerable breadth. Matassa's stated goal is to take the listener through a "pleasant day," with bright beginnings and a reflective quietude at its conclusion. Contemporary songwriters are an obvious... read more
Joachim Mencel - Brooklyn Eye
by Piotr Iwicki, Brullion 24 (Warsaw)
The essence of art is to find your own language as a creator. Talk to the recipient with new things, do not bore him with variations "on a theme", force him to reflect, focus attention.
This is the case with the new album by Joachim Mencel, recorded with American jazzmen from the proverbial TOP. Steve Cardenas, Scott Colley and Rudy Royston are the elite of the New York scene, and our pianist shines against the background of what they do.... read more
Sam Yahel - Truth And Beauty
by Nate Chinen, New York Times
Painting Sounds Using a Palette of Shadowy Colors From Pop and Postbop
The Hammond B-3 organist Sam Yahel began his second set at the Jazz Standard on Tuesday night with a row of intervals arranged to avoid any hint of resolution. This dash of atonality was fleeting - after a minute or two he plunged into a tune along with guitar and drums - but Mr. Yahel made it an efficient statement of purpose. This was an organ-trio gig, he seemed... read more
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