Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Deep Blue Organ Trio - Folk Music
by John Ephland, Downbeat, Jan 2008
You get a sense of where this music's going to go right away, and how tight these musicians are as a trio. The opener, "A Deeper Blue," is a medium-slow crawler that can expose any rough edges to a band's cohesion. The trio moves ever so gently off the soulful, bluesy head with the slightest restraint - riding on drummer Greg Rockingham's light, rolling snare- as they hesitate before diving in. Call it a measure of tightness, a lucky musical... read more
Nnenna Freelon - Time Traveler
by Paul Abella, WDCB (Chicago)
It has been entirely too long between albums from Nnenna Freelon. Discounting a Christmas album from 2012, the last we heard from Freelon was in 2010. She's back in 2021 with Time Traveler, an album recorded in the wake of her husband's long term illness and death in 2019. Considering the tragedy and heartache surrounding the album, it's an astonishingly upbeat affair. Even the songs that could have been maudlin, like "Time in a Bottle," instead... read more
Chad McCullough & Bram Weijters - Imaginary Sketches
by Herman te Loo, Jazz Flits
"A smashing debut, a deliberate likeable album, to win over the listener."
This quartet recording with trumpeter from Chad McCullough's Seattle is traditional. That does not mean that the group with bassist Chuck Deardorf and drummer John Bishop is mainstream, it's just that the compositions
that the two leaders deliver more right-to-earth feeling than the Belgian quintet [review taken from a double review]. Weijters and McCullough search... read more
Jeff Johnson - Free
by Dave McElfresh, JazzNow
In spite of the printed lineup info, this certainly doesn't feel like an effort by only three players. Check out the thick interactions between Johnson's bass and Teuber's saxophone on some of the cuts and see if your head doesn't register the heady dialogues as being the work of more than four arms.
Johnson's a shadow boxer who doesn't support a soloist as much as he challenges him. No wonder he's played with the likes of Chet Baker, Julian... read more
Dan Dean - Fanfare for the Common Man
by Dan McClenaghan, All About Jazz
BEST OF 2021 Dan Dean is well known for his bass playing and producing for Origin Records. He is also an accomplished—a recent development— vocalist. With Fanfare For the Common Man he has convened a choir of heavenly voices—all his own, via a painstaking overdub process— and made one of the most beautiful sets of music this year. It is a visitation of classical music—Bach, Mozart, Aaron Copland—presented with a full, lush... read more
Tad Britton - Black Hills
by Grego Applegate Edwards, Cadence
Black Hills, by Tad Britton includes a few originals, and a number of Pop classics not often, if ever, covered by a Jazz conflagration and, oh yes, a couple of Jazz numbers by classic writers. Bassist Jeff Johnson is hip, agile, and a great soloist. Tadd plays drums like he was born to play in a piano trio - he's busy enough to pull his weight in the threesome and can really play great time. Pianist Marc Seales has a superior linear sense and,... read more
Brad Goode Quintet - That's Right!
by Dave Rogers, WTJU
Brad Goode (trumpeter, bassist, drummer, composer, music educator) presents his 18th release as a leader and it is a jewel! He has pulled together a stunning band, including Ernie Watts (tenor sax), Adrian Farrugia (piano), Kelly Sill (bass) and Adam Nussbaum (drums). Goode says the disc is "supposed to be a snapshot of this band...and of the musical relationship between Ernie and myself - the combination of our approaches." (Liner notes)... read more
Clay Giberson - Upper Road
by Doug Yovanovich, e. peak
Clay Giberson's second album Upper Road takes listeners to a quiet place away from jazz's beaten path and seduces their senses admirably. The distinct sax and keyboard sounds tickle the upper octaves without being vivacious and without contradicting the soft mood of the supporting instruments. Portland native Giberson plays the piano and synth with the same creativity as Pat Metheny, who is regarded as a forefather of experimental electric jazz.... read more
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