Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
John Wojciechowski - Focus
by Dan Bilawsky, All About Jazz
Every now and then you encounter a musician who has it together in so many ways, yet has largely managed to avoid national recognition. Saxophonist John Wojciechowski is one such player.
While those with strong enough memories might recall that the Michigan-bred Wojciechowski took third place - behind Jon Gordon and Jimmy Greene - at the 1996 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition, those same people may come up empty on... read more
Todd Bishop - Little Played Little Bird
by C. Michael Bailey, All About Jazz
In the twilight days of the compact disc as a sound storage device, the most compelling reason for keeping what still seems a "new" audio media (compared to wax cylinders and 78s) in the face of purely electronic media is "concept" or "thematic" releases. One such example was drummer Todd Bishop's Pop Art 4 album, 69 Annee Erotique (Origin Records, 2009). This excellent release surveyed the music of French pop artist Serge Gainsbourg, music with... read more
Ted Moore Trio - The Natural Order of Things
by Dave Rogers, WTJU, Virginia
Recording artist, composer/arranger, drummer, bandleader and educator, Ted Moore is based in Berkeley, CA, and is the leader of The Ted Moore Trio. The trio, which consists of Ted on drums along with Phil Markowitz (The Sax Summit Band) on piano and Kai Eckhardt (John McLaughlin) on bass, has just completed its first recording project at the famed Skywalker Sound studio in Marin County, CA, consisting of all original compositions and... read more
Scott Hesse - The Stillness of Motion
by Paul Abella, Music Lounge - WDCB, Chicago
Chicagoan Scott Hesse's got a new trio with bassist Clark Sommers and drummer Makaya McCraven, and they have a new album out on Origin called The Stillness of Motion. For those of you familiar with Jeff Parker's trio, the sound will be familiar - a ripping and supple rhythm section playing alongside a guitarist with an impossibly dry tone that makes each jaw dropping run sound clear as a bell. Wayne Shorter's "Dance Cadaverous" gets a... read more
Nanami Haruta - The Vibe
by Ferell Aubre, The Jazz Word
With her debut album, The Vibe, trombonist Nanami Haruta confidently steps onto the jazz scene, marking herself as an exhilarating player on the jazz scene. Released February 28, 2025, on Origin Records, the album circles Haruta's exceptional talent. Mentor and producer Michael Dease presence on trombone and baritone saxophone imbues the project with energy.
The album opens invitingly with Renee Rosnes' "Girlie's World," arranged by Chris... read more
David Friesen - This Light Has No Darkness, Volume 1
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect
The multi-instrumentalist David Friesen has a long history in the jazz world, and here along with Paul Lees, Charlie Doggett and Rob Moore he fleshes out 12 tracks orchestrated by Kyle Gordon for a 33 piece orchestra.
"Recovery For Two" starts the listen with a charming dreaminess, where Friesen's well timed bass plucking is met with calm winds and gorgeous strings, and "Motivation" follows with a graceful, cinematic appeal that uses builds... read more
Ben Black - Mystery & Wonder
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect Reviews
The Seattle vocalist and songwriter Ben Black brings us 11 original songs here that are inspired by mysticism and meditation, and he's got an all star of musicians including Bill Anschell, Dave Peterson, Jeff Johnston, Mark Ivester, David Lange and Brenda Kay Neth along with him.
"Wonderland" opens the listen with Black's soulful pipes illuminating the frisky keys from Anschell and Peterson's spirited guitar work, and "Wind" follows with a... read more
Jay Thomas with the Oliver Groenewald Newnet - I Always Knew
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record
Thomas is a throwback to the extent that he is an admirer of the art of the arranger, he gives Groenwald equal billing and room to do whatever it takes to make the trumpeter look good. An obvious fan of jazz's great instrumental balladeers, this set takes it back to the day in spirit and delivers the goods in unequaled fashion. Real jazz for real jazzbo... read more
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