Clement made last edition's honourable mentions; in just the first three tracks here, she goes from fiery modern piano trio leader to utterly satisfying Monk interpreter to vocalist. For the rest of an album that flies by, she alternates between singing with a touchingly honest capture and continuing to bring the heat on keys. I dig "Tokudo", a tune from the bassist Williams that he's previously played with the likes of Charlie Rouse and Kenny... read more
Something you don't always hear in "big band" recordings these days is right here on this superb eight-song album... "swagger" & "proof of life"! Michael's drums "lead" this elegant excursion into the funkiest of big bands you've ever heard, especially on songs like the straight-ahead jazz on the 7:34 "Munich Musings"... this tune is definitely in the "must listen" category. The swirling vocal work on "Tunnell Vision" will thrill those who... read more
The influential Downbeat Magazine wrote about the disc "Whatever the game is a trio impresses with its multicolored diversity, and strongly marked musical personalities lend stigma original music. The depth of the harmonic solutions, intense rhythm, perfect, refined in detail the cooperation of musicians hypnotizes the audience ."
Led by the enthusiastic reviews, David Friesen, an American bassist who has worked with such greats as Sam... read more
Don Lanphere, a veteran tenor great from the bop era, and Pete Christlieb, the hard-driving tenor from Los Angeles, make for a very complementary and mutually inspiring team. Lanphere, who recorded with Fats Navarro and had an up-and-down career, returned to full-time activity in the early 1980s and has been heard in prime form ever since; not only is he heard here on tenor, but also on soprano and a bit of alto. Christlieb, who was formerly... read more
The names in guitarist Tom Rizzo's starting lineup on Day and Night indicate that this is a West Coast-based group, an observation that is borne out in Rizzo's bio, which says he is "active [on] the Los Angeles music scene" and served as guitarist for the Tonight Show band when Jay Leno was at the helm, reinforced by the song "Heart of L.A.," one of Rizzo's four original compositions.
Rizzo's tentet, featuring some of the Los Angeles area's... read more
Rich ballads and romantic moods are produced by Thomas Marriott, who plays tender trumpet and fluid flugelhorn as he's supported by the orchestrations and programming by keyboardist Ryan Cohen, vibe master Joe Lock, bassist Jeff Johnson and deft drummer John Bishop. The pastoral strings serve as rich drapery as Locke adds thoughtful vibes to Marriott's reflective musings on the elegiac "Dexter's Tune" and lyrical "Forgiveness." Glassy piano and... read more
This jazz trio is simply amazing, with a unique combination of instruments - trumpet, piano, and bass. Interestingly, I don't even miss the drums. The three musicians mesh very well with each other as a creative music organism. I kept thinking they were amoeba-like, conforming to each artist's individual sound space. This trio played weekly gigs for a year plus before recording this self-produced debut album in a single day. Their collective... read more
The co-op quartet Big Neighborhood performs catchy originals that stretch the modern mainstream of jazz. A particularly tight unit that has each of the four musicians thinking in similar directions, Big Neighborhood features concise solos, a colorful group sound, some tricky time signatures, and distinctive voices in altoist Chris Fagan and guitarist David White (who also plays guitar synthesizer). All of the music on their two-CD release could... 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