Singer and pianist Dawn Clement teams up with Steve Kovalcheck/g, John Clayton/b and Jeff Hamilton/dr to deliver a salute to the sui generis Blossom Dearie on this recent release. To be perfectly frank, while the songs here are associated with Ms. Dearie, Ms. Clement herself in terms of piano and delivery actually feel more like that of Bob Dorough on this session. This comes out most obviously on her slink take of "I'm Hip", but the same... read more
Hey, if you want to talk about Seattle's three or four best piano practitioners, you'd better put Randy Halberstadt on the list. Right around the top. I heard him a few years back here in PDX accompanying singer Meredith d'Ambrosio, and remember being duly impressed. Well, here's Randy with a couple more giants, Jeff Johnson, bass and Gary Hobbs, drums. This exciting trio works seamlessly together on standards like Moonray, In The Wee Small... read more
Hadley Caliman has had a long, distinguished career as a sideman, appearing on albums by Gerald Wilson, Bobby Hutcherson, Hampton Hawes, and Joe Henderson, among others, though he has had relatively sporadic opportunities to record as a leader.
His second CD for Origin indicates he may have found a regular outlet for his music, backed by the young trumpeter Thomas Marriott (who also records as a leader for the label and appeared on Caliman's... read more
The music on Constraints & Liberations operates and resides in that state between dreams and reality. The record slowly simmers with a restrained intensity and rarely comes to a boil.
The soloists are stellar and never fail to tell engaging stories. Thomas Marriott's trumpet sound is as lush and inviting as it comes. "Up From Under" and "Clues" give him plenty of room to slowly stretch out, like a tall man coming to from a deep sleep and... read more
Michael Dease is joined by an entirely new cast on The Other Side, performing ten selections composed by Gregg Hill. The musicians are excellent with veteran pianist Geoff Keezer sharing the keyboard duties with Luther Allison and three up-and-coming players being heard from: clarinetist Virginia MacDonald, bassist Liany Mateo, and drummer Colleen Clark. Trombonist Joel Perez is on two selections on which Dease switches to baritone sax, and... read more
Widely acknowledged as one of the finest bass players over the last forty years, David Friesen's Circle 3 Trio and Where the Light Falls may be his finest release yet.
Remember melody? Improvisational music was built around the strength of melody long before meter and technique moved to the head of the class. Friesen never forgot melody, he manipulates and manufactures all the possibilities that exist in a simple unadorned melody.... read more
Pianist Florian Hoefner terams up with a free flowing team of Seamus Blake/ts-ss, Sam Anning/b and Peter Kronreif/dr on a graceful collection of originals. Blake, one of the strong yet unheralded tenor players around, sounds warm and glowing as he teams up with Anning on "The Bottom Line" and glides like wind surfer on" The Narrows." The rhythm team is subtle and deft, playing with the groove on the tasty title track and mixing Gaellic sounds... read more
It's obvious that these three musicians have an "affinity" for each other and the music they make together. The drumless trio format makes the presentation more intimate, and the extra space in the soundscape makes the performance of familiar material unique. There's no lack of rhythmic drive, though, due to Clay Schaub's propulsive bass and intuitive locking in with Pamela York's piano backing. The program is enjoyable with a distinctive... 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