4-STARS The singer Karrin Allyson, who comes from Kansas, is dedicated to Brazilian music. "A Kiss for Brasil" is already the third album dedicated to these rhythms. This time, Allyson has brought the celebrated singer, guitarist and songwriter Rosa Passos to her side as a special guest. Passos contributes two songs to the album: "O Grande Amor" and "Month of March in Salvador (Dunas)". Victor Goncalves on piano and accordion and Rafael... read more
Tall Stranger is the fourth release from bassist Jeff Johnson as a bandleader and improvisational artist. Recorded on May 31, 2002 at the Cat House in Seattle, Washington, Johnson along with saxophonist Hans Teuber and drummer Billy Mintz create a free flowing exchange of musical ideas that traverse a wide array of eclectic-clad composites. The trio displays a boundless imagination which transforms their instrumentals into various shapes and... read more
Percussionist Tom Collier traces his roots to Seattle and Sixties musical culture. He considers Gary Burton (especially his 1966 album, Time Machine ) a vital influence in his development. Additionally, pop music from that era (The Beatles, Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass) provided insight into aspects of the recording process. His earliest gigs were on marimba. He eventually worked with Ry Cooder, Ernie Watts, Shelly Manne and Alex Acuna.... read more
Beautiful You, featuring tenor saxophonist John Gross and drummer Billy Mintz, was recorded live at the Tugboat Brew Pub in Portland, Oregon, sound quality excellent. Remember just a few years back, in vinyl days, when live recordings meant murky sounds, bad mixes and distracting crowd noise. Well, not on this one. This live duo outing has a ringing, studio-quality sound.
Saxophonist Gross has worked with the Stan Kenton Band, Toshiko... read more
A fine group of musicians from the Michigan area gather for what appears at first glance to be a song-by-song response to Miles' classic. The album opens with "Six Shades of Green," following the structure and feel of "All Blues" relatively closely. "Crossing Lines" follows the tone of "Freddie Freeloader" similarly. The chord progressions continue to follow the course set by Kind of Blue as the album progresses, with interplay between Ron di... read more
Hipsters attuned to the wave of highbrow, dance-friendly grooves resurrected by modern Hammond B-3 trios such as Soulive and Medeski Martin and Wood may do very well to seek out some of the last old-school purveyors of organ-centered soul jazz: Chicago's Deep Blue Organ Trio can cite references on their collective resume that would span the likes of Miles Davis and Kenny Burrell; and on their latest, "Folk Music," the sound is as fresh as this... read more
Since inception, the Origin Classical imprint has existed as a stylistic hinge between classical music and jazz. Defying genre definition, Origin Classical's archive should properly be considered simply music?that which defies category. Only a single release, Linda Tsatsanis and John Lenti's And I Remain: Three Love Stories?Music of the Seventeenth Century for Voice and Lute (Origin Classical, 2009), deals with what might be considered the... read more
Clarence Penn, best known for his drum work, adds keyboards, percussion and vocorder to his repertoire on this clever album where he features various vocalists to his rotating musical team that includes Adam Rogers-Gilad Hekselman/g, Shedrick Mitchell/key, and James Genus-Yasushi Nakamura/b amng others. Most intriguing Is the wide-ranging use of singers, with Kurt Elling in earnest form with Hekselman on "Come Talk To Me" while Emily Braden adds... read more
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.
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