Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Christopher Icasiano - Provinces
by Bryan Lineberry, Earshot Jazz
Chris Icasiano is a Seattle-based Filipino-American percussionist and composer of great presence in Seattle. One might know him as drummer of the iconic Bad Luck, as a social activist, music organizer and advocate, and/or around Café Racer for Racer Sessions.
Icasiano can find meaning and influence in just about any genre of music, and for his debut solo album, Provinces, a great many of those influences converge into a jaw-dropping personal... read more
Piet Verbist Zygomatik - Cattitude
by Ferdinand Dupuis-Panther, JazzHalo (Belgium)
Die vorliegende CD enthält acht Eigenkompositionen des in Antwerpen beheimateten Kontrabassisten Piet Verbist. Zu seiner Band zählen unter anderem der Saxofonist Jeroen van Herzeele, der gemeinsam mit Massot und Blondiau auch in Maäk zu hören ist. Neben van Herzelle am Tenor- und Sopransaxofon ist noch ein weiterer Saxofonist in der Band, der Baritonsaxofonist Vincent Brijs. An Fender Rhodes und an der Wurlitzer hören wir Bram Weijters und... read more
Oscar Hernández & Alma Libre - The Art of Latin Jazz
by George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly
This session by pianist/composer Oscar Hernandez is strong on both art and Latin Jazz. He brings together a top notch team of Justo Almario/ts-fl, Jimmy Branly/dr, Christian Moraga/perc and Jorge Perez/b for ten sizzling originals. Trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos guests the slinking "Right On" while he teams with Almario for a peppy title track. The percussion dazzles on the snappy "Timeshift" and bops with delight on "ESPN Blues" while the leader... read more
Chuck Deardorf - Transparence
by John Barron, The Jazz Word
You don't have to look far to find jazz bass players who specialize in one particular style or genre. There are very few, however, who double on upright and electric, can solo fluently on both instruments and can swing convincingly?probably the most elusive goal of so-called doublers. Seattle-based bassist Chuck Deardorf is one such elite performer. Transparence is a vibrant showcase, displaying the veteran sideman in a multitude of... read more
Ben Thomas Tango Project - Eternal Aporia
by Jane Kozhevnikova, All About Jazz
For some people, tango means the dance with a stereotypical red rose between the teeth. For Ben Thomas, a percussionist and bandoneonist from Seattle, tango is much more than that: it has been an important part of his life for at least fifteen years before the 2022 release of Eternal Aporia. The album includes twelve of his original compositions mixing tango with jazz and classical chamber music.
Joining Thomas on the album are Eric Likkel... read more
Randy Halberstadt - Parallel Tracks
by John Sunier, Audiophile Audition
Recorded in Seattle, this album from one of the outstanding jazz pianists of the Pacific Northwest brings us a notable lineup of composers - Artie Shaw, Branislav Kaper, Ray Noble, Bill Evans, Thelonious Monk, Cole Porter, Italian jazzman Enrico Pieranunzi, and would you believe Frederic Chopin? This is a trend seen on a number of jazz releases lately - one track on the album being a straight interpretation of a classical work; in this case... read more
Doug Lofstrom - Concertino: The Music Of Doug Lofstrom
by Laurence Vittes, Gramaphone
Chicago composer Doug Lofstrom has coupled first recordings of two modestly appealing orchestral concertinos for oboe and harp with an archival reprise of his Plumed Serpent studio fantasy from 30 years ago. There isn't much in either Concertino that hasn't been heard before - Richard Strauss and Hollywood musicals come to mind, though more svelte, brought up to date and internationalized - but they are both beautifully written for the... read more
John Stowell & Dan Dean - Rain Painting
by Frank Kohl, Cadence
One of the most original and innovative guitarists on the scene today would have to be John Stowell. A true pioneer in methods of playing and composing he stands alone in a sea of guitarists. John's latest release "Rain Painting" gives voice to the intricacies of his compositional skills. Joined by bassist, vocalist and master recording engineer, Dan Dean, John's originals are brought to their full potential. I am swept away by the clarity and... read more
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