Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Phil Kelly - Convergence Zone
by John Tapscott, amazon.com
Phil Kelly One of the Best Big Band Jazz CDs of '03 January 19, 2004 Kelly moved to the Pacific Northwest in 1998 and put together a band consisting of the top musicians in that area. Finally, in August 2003, the NW Prevailing Winds (with guests Pete Christlieb, Gary Smulyan and Andy Martin aboard) recorded "Convergence Zone." Both the band and the performance are outstanding. This is defintely one of the top big band jazz albums of 2003.... read more
Hal Galper - O's Time
by Philip Booth, Jazziz
Pianist Hal Galper's signature style involves bending and stretching pieces as far as they can go in the rubato style, and fully exploring where that strategy leads. For his sixth recording built on that approach, he again comes up with intriguing results, with the help of longtime collaborators Jeff Johnson and John Bishop on bass and drums, respectively.
The Trio's interpretations present an ever-engaging clash of form and freedom, with... read more
Jon Hamar - Música Callada
by Thierry De Clemensat, Paris Move
5-STARS Jon Hamar's Música Callada Redefines the Boundaries Between Classical Music and Jazz
It is rare to encounter a classical recording in which the double bass stands at the center of the artistic vision. Yet with Música Callada, released this June, Jon Hamar has created an album that feels quietly transformative, a work of uncommon depth that lingers long after the final notes fade. The first surprise arrives almost... read more
David Weiss Sextet - Auteur
by Marc Myers, Jazz Wax
Wow, talk about a smashing hard bop album. David is a sizzling, solid trumpeter-composer who fronts a solid band joined by Myron Walden (as), Nicole Glover (ts), David Bryant (p), Eric Wheeler (b) and E.J. Strickland (d). If Blue Note were still under the command of Alfred Lion and Francis Wolff, this is what their output would sound like. Five of the seven tracks are by David. The remaining two—Rebop and One for Bu—are by Freddie Hubbard... read more
Anthony Branker & Imagine - What Place Can Be for Us?
by Richard Kamins, Step Tempest
Dr. Anthony Branker is quite an accomplished person with a list of achievements that would fill this page. I spoke to him in 2017 at the time Origin Records released "Beauty Within", his seventh album of original compositions (and six issued by the Seattle, WA-based label). At that time, he had recently stepped down as the head (and founder) of the Jazz Studies Program at Princeton--he currently is Adjunct Professor at the Mason Gross School... read more
Michael Dease - The Other Shoe: The Music of Gregg Hill
by George W Harris, Jazz Weekly
Co-producer Gregg Hill has his compositions interpreted by the bold trombonist Michael Dease and the team of Virginal MacDonald/cl, Geoffrey Keezer-Luther Alison/p, Liany Mateo/b Colleen Clark/dr and a handful of guests. The addition of MacDonald's clarinet makes for rich ideas, as she's featured on the quirky "Wake Up Call" and her vibrato seduces on "Shorty's Tune". Dease has a horn that is big and brassy, going up and sown the scales on "The... read more
Ben Thomas - The Mystagogue
by Nils Jacobsen, All About Jazz
Seattle vibraphonist Ben Thomas offers a swinging, pulsing quintet sound on his second release, The Mystagogue. Thomas augments his core vibe/piano quartet with one of three clarinet and saxophone players on most of the tracks on the record, lending a ever-changing fifth voice to the ensemble. While the combination of piano and vibes might suggest the danger of over-crowding the midrange, Thomas and pianist Laura Caviani respect each other's... read more
R|E|D|S - Sign of Four
by Jerome Wilson, Cadence
Sign of Four is by a simpler quartet formation with guitar and baritone sax as the leads. Epstein plays a mobile and hard swinging baritone that brings Serge Chaloff to mind, especially in his ballad work. While Roupe has a thick, cushiony guitar sound reminiscent of Abercrombie or Coryell. The two of them really mix it p and dance on "Last Call" and "Space Acre." "Cambodia" is a swirling, Rock bossa nova "Tuca's Song" s a nice vehicle for... read more
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