Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Pax Wallace - Language Arts
by Jason West, All About Jazz
It's a pity Pax Wallace will soon be leaving Seattle to take up residence in Europe. Luckily, the thirty-nine year old pianist/composer leaves us with some wonderful music representing much of his best work over the seventeen years that he has made Seattle his home.
Recorded in the autumn of last year, "Language Arts" offers ten tracks that cover the entire spectrum of Wallace's musical palette. Featuring top-notch musical contributors like... read more
Scott Reeves Quintet - The Alchemist
by Richard B Kamins, Step Tempest
Many musicians used the pandemic to create new work, to hone new skills, and to find new ways to express themselves in a most uncomfortable. It's possible Scott Reeves (valve trombone, alto flugelhorn, electronics) did all those things but he also went through his archives. When he did, Reeves listened with fresh ears to a 2005 live gig he recorded at City of College of New York with Russ Spiegel (guitar), Mike Holober (piano, electric piano),... read more
Pharez Whitted - For the People
by Dan Bilawsky, All About Jazz
Indianapolis-born trumpeter Pharez Whitted has kept a low profile in the new millennium. He's busied himself with teaching, attending to his duties as Director of Jazz Studies at Chicago State University, performing live and appearing as a sideman on a scant number of under-the-radar albums, but none of this has helped to boost his reputation beyond his Midwestern home base. His fourteen year silence between Mysterious Cargo (Motown, 1996) and... read more
Anthony Branker & Ascent - Dance Music
by Bill Milkowski, Jazz Times
Composer Anthony Branker presides over a talented crew of alto saxophonist Tia Fuller, tenor saxophonist Ralph Bowen, trombonist Clifford Adams Jr., pianist Jonny King, bassist Kenny Davis, guitarist Freddie Bryant and drummer Adam Cruz. On the McCoy Tyner-ish opener, "The Renewal," Fuller, Adams and King step out from the fray as potent soloists. Bassist Davis and drummer Cruz provide the bounce on the funky "Dance Music," and the horn players... read more
John Bishop - Antwerp
by Debra Jan Bibel, Amazon
Sophisticated Musical Surprises
*****
Drummer John Bishop (founder of esteemed Seattle-based Origin Records) is mainly found supporting other ensembles, but this album has him as leader of a piano trio. He is teamed with Belgian pianist Bram Weijeters and bassist Piet Verbist, with whom he performed over the years during his travels. The varied and balanced tracks of new and reworked originals plus takes on Lawns by Carla Bley, Henry... read more
Gabriel Guerrero & Quantum - Equilibrio
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect
The inimitable pianist Gabriel Guerrero brings his Colombian heritage to these worldly 11 tracks that put him in the company of Seth Trachy, Will Slater, Felix Lecaros, Fung Chern Hwei and Guillermo Barrón.
The textured warmth of "Present Moment" opens the listen with Trachy' elegant sax aligning with Guerrero's playful piano playing, and "Ozpal" follows with Lecaros' animated drums amid the dancing keys of the frisky climate.
Halfway... read more
George Colligan & Theoretical Planets - Risky Notion
by Matthias Kirsch, Gina Love Jazz (Berlin)
George Colligan, the pianist who has worked with everyone from Phil Woods to Cassandra Wilson, from Nicholas Payton to Vanessa Rubin, or from Gary Bartz to Don Byron, also plays trumpet, organ, and drums. And his latest album "Risky Notion" is where you can hear him solely playing the latter. With his group, the Theoretical Planets, he has come up with 10 original compositions, all drum-heavy and percussive, with the leader clearly in the... read more
Greg Yasinitsky - YAZZ Band: New Normal
by Jack Bowers, All About Jazz
4-STARS As one good album clearly deserves another, Greg Yasinitsky, who wears many hats—composer, arranger, woodwind specialist and educator among them—has released New Normal, the second impressive outing by his admirable Washington state-based ensemble, the YAZZ Band, which varies in size from septet to tentet. Unlike Yasinitsky's earlier album, YAZZ Band, which was recorded basically in one session with fixed personnel, the... read more
Looking for a specific review?
This is just a small collection of the Origin Records reviews. Click here to view all reviews or try to Search for your favorite CD title.
Search Reviews:
Recently Added Reviews:
Abate Berihun & The Addis Ken Project - Addis Ken
by Hanna Kay, Cult News (Paris)
Abate Berihun & The Addis Ken Project - Addis Ken
by Budapest, Rudolf Radnai
Abate Berihun & The Addis Ken Project - Addis Ken
by Editor, Bman's Blues Report
Jared Hall - Hometown
by Editor, Bman's Blues Report
Dawn Clement - Dear Ms. Dearie
by Editor, Bman's Blues Report
Jared Hall - Hometown
by Dee Dee McNeil, Making A Scene
Affinity Trio - New Outlook
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect
Michael Dease Big Band - Return Trajectory
by Thierry De Clemensat, Paris Move
Brad Goode Quintet Feat. Ernie Watts - Live Your Dream: Live at North Street Cabaret
by Thierry De Clemensat, Paris Move
Maja Jaku - Blessed & Bewitched
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect