Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Michael Waldrop Big Band - Time Within Itself
by Rotcod Zzaj, Improvijazzation Nation
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
Dan Dean - Fanfare for the Common Man
by Ron Schepper, Textura
Having distinguished himself in a career spanning decades as a bassist, composer, producer, and recording engineer, Dan Dean turned his attention four years ago to the creation of classical pieces using purely vocal means. The artistic success of Songs Without Words encouraged him to fashion a successor, which brings us to the glorious Fanfare for the Common Man. It couldn't be any more of a solo project: using overdubbing to assemble his voice... read more
Ray LeVier - Ray's Way
by Don Lerman, Cadence
Leader and drummer Ray Levier utilizes a top-notch cast of musicians in different group combinations ranging from trio to quintet size in this excellent concert of mostly original music. The pairing of John Abercrombie and Joe Locke on guitar and vibes occurs on five of the nine selections, performing thought-provoking originals from each core group member, including Abercrombie's "Ralph's Piano Waltz," bassist Francois Moutin's "Echoing," and... read more
Storms/Nocturnes - VIA
by David Whiteis, JazzTimes
Storms/Nocturnes--reedman Tim Garland, pianist Geoffrey Keezer and vibraphonist Joe Locke--originally evolved out of the septet Garland led on his 'Made My Walking' project in 2000. This percussion-less trio format illuminates the interweaving voice's subtleties, strengths and dexterity. However, it also challenges them to be fully realized at all times; in other words, there's no sonic cushion, no rhythmic safety net, to fall back on. Many... read more
Michael Bisio & Timothy Hill - Inside Voice / Outside Voice
by Grego Applegate Edwards, Applegate Blog
As we play out our lives in real time we trace the unfolding trajectory of the musical artists we gladly follow, so that each new album for example is not set in stone but plays upon the possibilities made available to the musical artist at any given point. In the case of bassist-bandleader Michael Bisio the new one is rather unexpected and in no way a kind of safe haven but rather a new set of risks entailed in a duet recording with... read more
Steve Korn - Here and Now
by Dave Nathan, All Music Guide
A drummer who is a leader has to be aware not to take advantage of his position by overwhelming his fellow players and listeners with long, non-directional solos, yet at the same time let it be known that this is, in fact, his or her album, often a difficult balance to achieve. Steve Korn handles this problem very nicely by not letting it become a problem. He has gathered a roster of top-flight musicians from the Northwest region, including two... read more
Brad Wheeler - The Future Was Yesterday
by Dan McClenaghan, All About Jazz
The Future Was Yesterday opens with a bass/drum knock and rumble, churning ahead with a loose momentum. A bit after a minute into the song "Inner Vision" the piano chords in with some gentle chimes, and you know right off you're listening to a hell of a rhythm section. Then Brad Wheeler blows into the mix on a robust and searching tenor, and you know you've got a hell of a saxophonist, too.
That opener has me thinking of the classic Coltrane... read more
Robby Ameen - Live at the Poster Museum
by Mark Griffith, Modern Drummer
This is one of the best drummer led records that I have heard in a long while. We can tell that many of these musicians have been working together for a while in Conrad Herwig's Latin Side... band. However, under Ameen's leadership the Latin flavors get further twisted into a mélange of fusion, jazz, Latin, groove, and everything else; "Ameenmusic" if you will. And with Ameen's first live recording of his band, the music really jumps out of the... read more
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