Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Alon Farber Hagiga - Reflecting On Freedom
by Mattie Poels, Music Frames (Netherlands)
The band Hagiga plays a very varied repertoire. Swing, jazz, funk and even Moroccan-oriented music are featured. Reflecting on Freedom has therefore become a varied album. Hagiga plays tight and skilfully: we hear three wind players and a rhythm section in beautiful themes, with excellent solos by all musicians. Double tempo, counter rhythms, virtuosity; it all sounds very organic. The album opens with Israeli Song. A sublime piece that... read more
Hal Galper / Jeff Johnson / John Bishop - Furious Rubato
by Bill Barton, Coda
The Harvard Dictionary of Music defines rubato as: "An elastic, flexible tempo involving slight accelerandos and ritardandos that alternate according to the requirements of musical expression." Pianist Hal Galper's liner notes elucidate quite eloquently his theories regarding rubato, parsing the basic pulse, "bending and shaping" the melody and harmony and - as he emphasizes - "you have to swing whatever tempo you're playing either basic,... read more
John La Barbera Big Band - Grooveyard
by Marc Myers, Jazz Wax
Jazz has long been blessed by a sizable number of sibling musicians. Most notably, there are the Joneses (Hank, Elvin and Thad), the Montgomerys (Wes, Buddy and Monk), the Mangiones (Chuck and Gap), the Heaths (Jimmy, Percy and Albert "Tootie" Heath), the Turrentines (Stanley and Tommy), the Adderleys (Cannonball and Nat), the Youngs (Lester and Lee), the Candolis (Pete and Conte), the Breckers (Michael and Randy) and the Marsalises (Branford,... read more
Marc Bernstein & Good People - Hymn For Life
by Ivan Rod, Gaffa - Denmark
Marc Bernstein, Sinne Eeg and Co. have with sensuous textures, created a monstrously beautiful vocal jazz album.
The resident American jazz saxophonist and bass-clarinetist, Marc Bernstein, has repeatedly shined on his previous albums, and he does it yet again on his new album, Hymn For Life, which is alluringly beautiful and melodic. A feature of the album is the airy presence, and very woody sounding bass clarinet that clings sensually up... read more
John Moulder - Earthborn Tales of Soul and Spirit
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record
Chicago's own guitarist rounds up a crew of his jazzbo pals that have played with everyone everywhere that matters and leads them through the kind of set Paul Horn (if he played guitar) would have led them through 40 years ago if he were of the same like minded mysticism as Moulder. Influenced by those who were influenced by the far East and the search for enlightenment, it's not space case stuff, it's just on that corner where jazz meets... read more
Shawn Purcell - Oblivity
by Pete Prown, Vintage Guitar Magazine
With burnin' bop, ballad, and fusion, this album crackles with life - and superb musicianship. Purcell threads the needle well, staying traditional but also pushing jazz boundaries with guitar effects and synth sounds ("Quiet the Chaos"). "Verdigris" is straight-ahead bop with complex guitar phrases that are spellbinding, while "Gentle Giant" offers a slow ballad with Shawn's melodic and masterful... read more
Dana Hall - Into the Light
by Charles Latimer, http://idigjazz.blogspot.com/
Dana, you've logged many man-hours as a sideman, working for jazz greats such as the late tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson, vocalist Maria Schneider, and pianist Kenny Barron. With the soon to be released, "Into the Light", your debut album, you'll show a wider audience what you're made of. Your resume' is too enormous too talk about so I'll just comment on "Into the Light", which will be on my favorite album of 2009 list.
Do you value jazz... read more
Hood Smoke - Laid Up In Ordinary
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record
Am I hearing young Hawk Wolinski and Chaka Khan echoing in these grooves? A smoking Chicago crew that knows their groove history a well as their local history deliver Grandson of Rufus on this funky for the times set that's driven by their well honed chops. Fun stuff that'll be sure to tell you something good.... read more
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