Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Jessica Williams - Freedom Trane
by Jerome Wilson, Cadence
Pianist Jessica Williams explores the music of John Coltrane, playing compositions from various parts of his career as well as original pieces that strongly show his influence. All the familiar Coltrane characeristics are here: heavy chords, grand swirling introductions, and slowly unwinding melodies. But there are not a lot of direct takes from his most familiar pianist, McCoy Tyner. Williams' playing is based more on the rich melodic sweep... read more
Josh Nelson - The Sky Remains
by Bruce Crowther, Jazz Mostly
On this musical portrait of Los Angeles, pianist Josh Nelson takes inspiration from places and people and events that have added to the city's rich history. Instrumentalists joining Josh on this album are trumpeter Chris Lawrence, alto saxophonist Josh Johnson, clarinetist Brian Walsh, organist Larry Goldings, guitarist Anthony Wilson, bassist Alex Boneham, drummer Dan Schnelle, and percussionist Aaron Serfaty. Also heard are vocalists Kathleen... read more
Hal Galper - E Pluribus Unum - Live in Seattle
by Bob Weinberg, Jazziz, Summer 2010
There's nothing delicate about this robust trio led by pianist Hal Galper. Negotiating tangled, knotty skeins of melody, harmony and rhythm, Galper, bassist Jeff Johnson and drummer John Bishop vigorously comb through Galper-penned dazzlers such as "Rapunzel's Luncheonette," and apply the same spirited precision to Ellington's "Take the Coltrane." Even playing it cool, as they do on Galper's lovely "Soliloquy," the trio never sounds... read more
Hal Galper - O's Time
by Maurizio Zerbo, All About Jazz / Italia
O's Time is a remarkable CD that finds Hal Galper in splendid form and documents both his expressive richness and relevant creativity. Emblematic of a particular group of jazz musicians - the musician's musician - Hal Galper offers a fascinating journey and imaginative explorations of some standards.
Without Voltage dips, the flowery interplay of his trio is the flywheel of a vibrant path, made of clear melodic leaps and exuberant... read more
Doug Beavers 9 - Two Shades of Nude
by Kyle O'Brien, Jazz Society of Oregon
Trombonist Beavers is known for being a member of the Mingus Big Band and also for his association with Eddie Palmieri. On his second disc as a leader and composer, Beavers leads eight other fine musicians through a disc of originals and tightly arranged covers. It's a small, modern jazz big band that tackles the music with verve. The title track shows off Beavers' fortitude as a composer. Its long note theme soars over a bubbling bop, and his... read more
Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra - The Endless Search
by Adam Greenberg, All Music Guide
After a guest spot with the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra in 2001, longtime sax player Jimmy Heath went back to work at Queens College. Letting a few years pass, the SRJO came back with a commission -- an attempt to create new music for the older structured form of big-band jazz. The result was a three-part tour de force of harmony that manages to showcase the formidable horns of Seattle individually without simply resorting to solos. This is... read more
Deep Blue Organ Trio - Wonderful!
by Ralph A. Miriello, Notes on Jazz
Having grown up in New Jersey in the sixties and seventies, there was always a slightly seedy lounge or dim lit bar where despite the over whelming smell of stale beer hanging dead in the smoke filled air, a young guy with a slightly altered id could go have a beer and hear the sweet sound of a magnificent Hammond B3 organ playing a mix of jazz, soul and the blues. Often times it was a trio, usually with guitar, drums and of course that Hammond... read more
Ziggurat Quartet - Calculated Gestures
by Nenim Iwebuke, Afropop Worldwide
Nigerian-born, London-raised, Brooklyn-based saxophonist, composer and producer Zem Audu is no novice to the music industry. While working closely with notable names like Hugh Masekela, Jason Moran and Lauryn Hill over the years, the Skatalites band member has ingested a variety of genres: contemporary jazz, ska, reggae, funk, soul and r&b.
Zem's new album, Spirits (Origin Records), is a fusion of his life experiences: his roots in... read more
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