Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Joel Miller - Swim
by David Franklin, Cadence
Since 2001, the Canadian tenorist Joel Miller has released six recordings under his own name, the 2011 Swim being the latest. On this album, as on earlier ones, Miller shows himself to be an extraordinary saxophonist able to execute the most difficult technical passages with apparent ease. But he employs his technique not for show but in the service of a well-developed, creative melodic sensibility enhanced by an attractive Mintzer/ Brecker-like... read more
Laurie Antonioli - Songs of Shadow, Songs of Light
by Dan Bilawsky, All About Jazz
The concept of a jazz-informed program of Joni Mitchell tunes isn't exactly novel anymore. Herbie Hancock's high profile River: The Joni Letters (Verve, 2007) took home two Grammy Awards; vocalist Tierney Sutton got some well-deserved attention when she put her own spin on Mitchell's work with After Blue (BFM, 2013); somewhat under-the-radar releases from artists like David Lahm and Rachel Z have made something of an impact on a... read more
Chris Walden Big Band - No Bounds
by Victor L. Schermer, All About Jazz
No Bounds is as tasteful a big band album as you're likely to hear today, at a time when large jazz ensembles compete in virtuosity, intensity, range and, unfortunately, volume. Every note on the disc is well-placed, in tune and, even when dissonant, pleasing to the ears. That's because Walden knows music from top to bottom, having been a trumpeter himself, and composed, arranged and conducted for big bands, the cinema, television and star... read more
Bobby Broom - Song And Dance
by Chris M. Slawecki, All About Jazz
"Survey with the Strings On Top"
Beg your pardon for the atrocious pun, but it sort of introduces this survey of jazz and blues releases instrumented by bass and guitar players.
Chicago native Bobby Broom has been playing guitar since he was about eleven. He decided to become a professional musician after hearing guitarist George Benson kick ass throughout Bad Benson, and was invited on tour by colossal saxophonist Sonny Rollins when Broom... read more
Thomas Marriott - Human Spirit
by George Fendel, Jazz Society of Oregon
I hope the people of Seattle are hip to the brilliance of Marriott. He plays with complete ease at the most brisk of tempos and displays the gift of a beautiful, pure tone. Along with Mark Taylor, alto saxophone, Gary Versace, B-3 organ, and Matt Jorgensen, drums, Marriott gets this CD off to a flying start on an up-tempo "You Don't Know What Love Is." Other highlights include an Ellington tune, completely new to me, "Low Key Lightly." Years... read more
Jordan VanHemert - Deep in the Soil
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect
The alto-sax extraordinaire Jordan VanHemert is in some fine company here, where 8 swingin' tunes that take influence from the almighty Charlie Parker don't disappoint.
The bright sax and frisky drums from Lewis Nash guide the opener, "Call To Order", and "Sounds For Sore Ears" follows with Terrell Stafford's glowing trumpet and Helen Sung's intricate keys helping cultivate plenty of melodic, rich song craft.
Halfway through, the intimacy... read more
Jack Mouse - Range of Motion
by Shigeyo Hyodo, Jazz Page
With a history of co-starring with famous musicians such as Stan Kenton, Clark Terry, and Randy Brecker, veteran jazz drummer Jack Mouse presents his debut album as a leader. In the quintet of masterful musicians including fellow Chicagoans Art Davis on trumpet and Scott Robinson on woodwinds, they perform 10 original songs, including dedications to Shelly Mann and Henry Mancini. From the attractive mysterious sounds in "Winterset," the... read more
Benjamin Boone - Caught in the Rhythm
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect
An artist who is well versed in composing and playing the saxophone, Benjamin Boone brings the work of contemporary poets with spur of the moment jazz ideas across these 13 adventurous tracks.
"Mississippi 1955 Confessional" opens the listen with Hashem Assadullahi's soaring sax and Peter Brendler's well timed bass complementing T.R. Hummer's fluid wordplay in the warm jazz climate, and "Hoodwitches (Redux)" follows with Faylita Hicks'... read more
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