Origin Records Reviews

ZurHub - Countryside Motorways
by Thierry De Clemensat, Paris Move

A Worldly Soundtrack: Mattan Klein and Ezequiel Hezi Jait's "Countryside Motorways" Offers a Panoramic Jazz Journey. 4-STARS

Composer and flutist Mattan Klein, a man of many cultures and wide musical reach, is the creative force behind ZurHub, a genre-defying collective of musicians that draws from far more than its Israeli roots. Co-founded in 2017 with guitarist Ezequiel Hezi Jait, the ensemble is the fruit of years of... read more

Brittany Anjou - Enamigo Reciprokataj
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record

In which we find our fearless leader making a piano trio debut that goes somewhere else but really doesn't. Not willing to take on art for art's sake, this tyro that's sought out and studied with dyed in the wool pros shows that you don't need to microdose acid to expand your mind. Almost like taking the history of piano trio, putting it in a Yatzee cup and shaking it up to see where the future might lie, this amazing kaleidoscope of sounds just... read more

Sam Yahel - From Sun to Sun
by Alex Henderson, All Music Guide

Throughout much of his career, Sam Yahel was described as "organist Sam Yahel." But when his 2009 recording, Hometown, became commercially available, one started hearing him described as "organist/pianist Sam Yahel." On Hometown, Yahel played the acoustic piano exclusively -- which came as a surprise to listeners who knew him for his organ-oriented albums. And if anyone thinks that Hometown was just an anomaly for Yahel, From... read more

Shawn Purcell - Oblivity
by Thomas Houbron, Couleurs Jazz (Paris)

Weightless guitar, between dream and introspection.

With Oblivity, guitarist Shawn Purcell delivers a refined and adventurous collection of ten original compositions, blending lyricism, tension, and ingenuity. His playing moves effortlessly between swing, post-bop, and more modern textures, all underpinned by a finely tuned ensemble. Tenor saxophonist Walt Weiskopf proves a perfect counterpart, offering counterpoint when needed,... read more

Jaiman Crunk - Encounters
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record

Reminiscent of the kind of grand sitting down jazz date you'd get when someone would write someone like Michel LeGrand or Michel Columbier a check big enough to realize a grand vision, this new kid on the block has everyone in jazz turn out to lend a hand. Maybe not everyone but if you look at the credit list, it does go on forever and it's all made up of pros from the different sub phyla of jazz---all coming together and making it work. A... read more

Bill Anschell - Rumbler
by Thomas Conrad, JazzTimes

Jazz has always been rife with rumors about great players hidden in backwater towns. Seattle, Wash., is no vantage point of New York City, where jazz reputations are made and lost. From New York, Seattle is somewhere on the left edge of the Earth―perhaps near Siberia.

Bill Anschell would be a badass wherever he lived, even Greenwich Village. He is an impeccable, distinctive pianist with a valuable body of work on Seattle's Origin... read more

Dan Dean - Songs Without Words
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record

Recording on Mercer Island and giving the first special thanks credit to Nancy Rumbel - do you think this is going to be your usual egghead classical date? The protean bass player surrounds himself with his ax and his voice and a mic taking warhorse repertoire to places you'd never imagine. Deciding to do it for himself this time around, the unquestionable bass ace takes it to church and everyplace else in the course of this sterling recital.... read more

David Weiss Sextet - Auteur
by Marc Myers, Jazz Wax

Wow, talk about a smashing hard bop album. David is a sizzling, solid trumpeter-composer who fronts a solid band joined by Myron Walden (as), Nicole Glover (ts), David Bryant (p), Eric Wheeler (b) and E.J. Strickland (d). If Blue Note were still under the command of Alfred Lion and Francis Wolff, this is what their output would sound like. Five of the seven tracks are by David. The remaining two—Rebop and One for Bu—are by Freddie Hubbard... read more

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