Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Bill Anschell - Shifting Standards
by Thomas Conrad, Stereophile
4 1/2 STARS All jazz fans love horns. It is therefore paradoxical that, if told they could keep only one ensemble format in their record collections, many would hoard their piano trio albums. There is a special magic to a superlative piano trio, a unique purity and balance. No wonder it is called the minimum complete jazz orchestra.
There is a superlative piano trio based in Seattle, Washington. On the evidence here, one of the best... read more
Mimi Fox - This Bird Still Flies
by Howard Mandel, Downbeat
4-STARS Proving she has nothing to prove on This Bird Still Flies, meticulous Bay Area guitarist Mimi Fox uses her 11th recording as leader or co-leader to showcase her utter mastery of the acoustic instrument. Mixing five originals with standards, Beatles songs and a national ode, the 62-year-old guitarists' guitarist here takes care to let every nuance of fingerwork and dynamic control shine.
"Get Away Blues" opens the album... read more
Matt Jorgensen +451 - The Sonarchy Session
by Adam Greenberg, All Music Guide
Recorded in a live session for a local radio station, 451: The Sonarchy Session covers much of the same ground as the very nice The Road Begins Here album, but with a change in players on the sax and the Fender Rhodes, a slightly different set list, and an additional level of the live dynamic. The action centers around Jorgensen on the drums and a heavy dose of the Rhodes courtesy of Ryan Burns. Some of the better selections from previous... read more
Dave Slonaker Big Band - Intrada
by Jack Bowers, All About Jazz
Don't be put off by the name. Intrada, composer / arranger Dave Slonaker points out, is "a musical form often composed as a prelude, overture or fanfare," one whose upbeat phrases give rise to an exhilarating curtain-raiser on Slonaker's initial big-band recording. Rest assured this is a world-class ensemble and there's no doubt whose steady hand is at the helm: Slonaker wrote every number save the standard "It's Only a Paper Moon" and... read more
Ted Brancato - The Next Step
by George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly
Keyboardist Ted Brancato brings to the field a mix of acoustic and electric musicians including Ron Carter/b as well as a reed and brass section for this collection of material that goes from funk to cheery acoustic. Easy and bluesy jazz comes out on pieces such as "Kinshasa" and "I Don't Want to Fall" while the funk factor is spotlighted on the percussive "Karate Kid" and "It's The Little Things." What used to be called "Adult... read more
Doug Beavers Orchestra - Jazz, Baby!
by Stefan Sheppard, Zooglobble
All 10 songs here are traditional ("Twinkle Twinkle," "Shortnin' Bread," "Working' On the Railroad"), and the vocals take center stage. If there is any difference it's that the arrangements are stronger, with strong versions of "Twinkle Twinkle" and "Itsy Bitsy Spider" that take full-advantage of a 20+ member big band being two highlights. "She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain" is done in a fun cha-cha style. It's a polished recording, and while... read more
Purna Loka Ensemble - Metaraga
by Customer Review, Amazon
"Innovative music album that transcends the boundaries of music using concepts from advanced math" Purnapragna Bengere along with David Balakrishnan and associates Jeff Harshburger and Amit Kavethkar has created a unique, genre-bending type of music. The music is based on a framework called Metaraga that takes the Indian Raga system and extends it by adding Horizontal and vertical extensions to it based on concepts from Algebraic... read more
Hal Galper - O's Time
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record
50 years in, Galper has done an enviable job of keeping jazz piano trio fresh, creative and insightful. Even when playing a chestnut, it's not about playing pretty for the people, it's about making them sit up and listen, and he does it without hitting you over the head. Successfully taking bop into the new century, Galper is on the money throughout with restless creativity that draws you in and keeps you there. Well done... 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