Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Hal Galper - Live at the Berlin Philharmonic, 1977
by Derek Ansell, Jazz Journal (UK)
1977 was not a good year for jazz; progressive rock, heavy metal and other popular sounds were everywhere, and jazz musicians were mainly involved in playing a hybrid music with electronic instruments and a rock beat. Galper himself played electric piano in the Cannonball Adderley band but he returned to an all-acoustic line up and a hard-bop, progressive modern jazz sound for this concert at the Berliner Jazztage 77 stage.
The band were... read more
Geof Bradfield - melba!
by Alex Marianyi, NextBop
Kansas City Child. Central Avenue. Dizzy Gillespie. Randy Weston. Detroit / Kingston. Homecoming. This is the story of Melba Liston's life as told by Chicago-based saxophonist and composer Geof Bradfield. Liston's is a story not often told, but she was an extremely unique trombonist and composer with a special gift for bringing out the best in those she collaborated with. Bradfield framed this suite of music, as presented on his album Melba!,... read more
Bobby Broom - The Way I Play: Live In Chicago
by Owen McNally, The Hartford Courant
Since making his Carnegie Hall debut at 16 with Sonny Rollins, Bobby Broom has been universally hailed as a consummate sideman, the guitarist of choice for artists ranging from Rollins to Dr. John.
Many sidemen lead quiet lives of desperation, lacking the chutzpah to step out front with their own albums.
Not so with Broom who has ventured out before, but never with such convincing authority as he whisks through chord changes with his... read more
Piet Verbist - Suite Réunion
by Alex W. Rodriguez, Downbeat
***
Jazz musicians know a thing or two about grueling travel schedules. Belgian bassist Piet Verbist, a veteran of two decades of jazz globetrotting, draws from the experience and gathers longtime friends for Suite Réunion, an album that exudes effervescence throughout as pieces oscillate between cool, lyrical openness and upbeat swing.
"Mygratum" opens the recording with a heartfelt and lyrical exposition for solo bass that... read more
Hal Galper / Jeff Johnson / John Bishop - Furious Rubato
by Marc Medwin, Cadence
Hal Galper's offering was the biggest surprise. It's the furthest out, his playing much more adventurous than I would have expected. Clearly in the tradition, his keyboard attack is nevertheless somehow brazen, bold and certain, as with Andrew Hill of the Strange Serenade period. Even the usually serene "Naima" emits raw energy, the melody twisted almost out of recognition. "Milestones" is subjected to similar treatment, becoming a no holds-... read more
Kiki Valera - Vivencias en Clave Cubana
by Paul Rauch, All About Jazz
Son Cubano is a genre of music and dance originating from the hill country of eastern Cuba during the 19th century. Its origins are a blend of African and Spanish influences. Son vocal style and meter are of Spanish tradition, while its identifiable clave rhythm, call and response, and percussive elements are of Bantu origin.
Over the past century, the form has evolved, spreading its influence as the music was performed internationally by... read more
Jeff Johnson - The Art of Falling
by Dave Nathan, All Music Guide
This is the second album by Jeff Johnson for the Origin label, even though the first Free was recorded at a later date than this session. Using a quartet instead of a trio format, Johnson continues to explore facets of creative, modern jazz but in such a way as not to force listeners to dissociate themselves from the proceedings. While highly exploratory, there is sufficient symmetry and melody to make the music meaningful. Johnson is joined by... read more
Michael Dease - City Life: Music of Gregg Hill
by Editor, JazzTimes
TOP JAZZ RELEASES - JUNE 2025
Trombonist Michael Dease scales back to trio on the first half of City Life, his third Origin release devoted to music by composer Gregg Hill (after The Other Shoe and Found in Space, both of which had fuller instrumentation). Disc one finds the leader stretching out in a chordless context with bassist Linda May Han Oh and drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts. The format gives Dease endless room to deal on a high level... read more
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