Hal Galper's recordings always have an adventurous spirit, and the live CD Art-Work is no exception. The veteran pianist, joined by bassist Reggie Workman and drummer Rashid Ali (both veterans of John Coltrane's bands, though not at the same time), launches into a furious exploration of Duke Ellington's simple riff blues "Take the Coltrane," though Galper incorporates dissonance into the introduction and quickly builds steam as he takes the... read more
Kikoski is a sideman on saxophonist Michael Zilber's Originals for the Originals, a tribute to seven of the leaders's favorite saxophonists (Michael Brecker, Sonny Rollins, Dave Liebman, Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson, John Coltrane and Paul Desmond) via wittily-titled originals hinting at their musical spirits.
It is an intriguing set, with Zilber sounding like some of his heroes and not like others. Uptempo "Breckerfast Club" and more somber... read more
Dana Hall doesn't often hog the spotlight on his debut album, Into the Light. He doesn't need to; he plays more stuff behind other musicians than some drummers do in a solo. Hall stays busy back there, exhorting and swinging the band, playing contrary rhythms, shifting his patterns and punctuating everybody else's solos.
Here, Herbie Hancock's "I Have a Dream" is played more or less in the style of the Miles Davis quintet with Tony Williams... read more
This debut recording of the Brad Goode Quintet (but18th for Goode as leader) is special: added was Ernie Watts, tenor saxophonist.The veteran musician shares the stage with Andrean Farrugia at the piano, Kelly Sill with bass, Adam Nussbaum before the drums, and Goode himself on trumpet. Except for an Arlen & Mercer tune and one by tenor saxophonist Von Freeman, with whom Goode had often performed, the tracks are by members of the Quintet. An... read more
The trio of this recording have played together in the studios and stages of Belgium, France, and Russia for 13 years! They have attended many jazz conferences in Europe and have shared musical knowledge and experiences creating very tight bonds among them. The leader of the trio is John Bishop who in addition to being an outstanding drummer, is the proprietor of the award-winning Seattle-based Origin Records and its subsidiary, OA2 Records.... read more
James Moody's old bandleader Dizzy Gillespie couldn't be there that night at the Blue Note, but he was there anyway. The traces he left in the life and music of Moody (1925-2010) were omnipresent. Think of the repertoire - pieces like 'Bebop', 'Birks' Works' and 'Cherokee' - and a preference for real Jesus tempos, such as later generations played and still play less and less. And then there was the shared past that went back far into... read more
This spirited romp by top-tier jazz professionals through the music of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn is long overdue. Though many pay lip service to their twin genius, the pair seem almost forgotten in popular culture. No massive vinyl reissue campaigns by major labels, no racy docudramas, no Record Store Day limited editions.
Bassist and educator Rodney Whitaker has studied the classic work of Ellington and Strayhorn since he was a... read more
There's much to be said for holding a band together over the course of years and performances and album/CD releases, honing the familiarity, comfort level and the intricacies of interplay. Think of the two great Miles Davis Quintets, or Keith Jarrett's Standards Trio.
There's also a lot to be said for the one-off affairs, the freshness and spontaneity and energy of a group of like-minded artists getting together for a single... 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