Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Greta Matassa - The Smiling Hour
by Paul Freeman, San Jose Mercury News (Interview)
Seattle-based jazz vocalist Greta Matassa's father was a visual artist, a painter. And a serious jazz buff.
"My dad and I used to stay up until three in the morning, talking about the parallels between jazz music and abstract art," Matassa tells The Daily News. "They are very similar in the spontaneity of the way they're put together. You start with a structure in a piece of music. Or a subject matter in art. And then the act itself of... read more
Bobby Broom - My Shining Hour
by George Fendel, Oregon Jazz Scene
It seems as though guitarist Bobby Broom has found a home on Seattle's Origin label, but somehow I must have missed this 2014 release. It is still available and worth telling you about. Broom takes off in very straight-ahead fashion with his trio mates, Dennis Carroll (bass) and Makaya McCraven (drums) on a menu of nine much admired standards. Broom is equally impressive whether playing single-note passages or rich, rewarding chords. His... read more
Zem Audu - Spirits
by S. Victor Aaron, Something Else
Many of the more progressive jazz types these days boast diverse ethnic/world music bonafides that they creatively infuse into their music that broadens the jazz vernacular. Saxophonist Zem Audu 's brand of jazz is internationally flavored, too, but he didn't get that way out of mere curiosity; he's lived that kind of life.
Born in Nigeria and raised in England, Audu made his way to the jazz epicenter New York seven years ago. Along the... read more
Peter Erskine & the JAM Music Lab All-Stars - Bernstein in Vienna
by Stephen Graham, Marlbank (UK)
4-STARS Here's a swinging, tone perfect, small jazz group live version of some of the gems from the Leonard Bernstein catalogue powered by Weather Report drummer Peter Erskine and beautifully arranged by pianist Danny Grissett - interesting touches include using harmonica (Bertl Mayer) as lead voice on 'I Feel Pretty'. Drummers check out Erskine's masterful touches on 'It's Love'. Great too to hear swinging guitarist Andreas Varady in... read more
John McLean - Better Angels
by Forrest Dylan Bryant, JazzTimes
Eclecticism is the name of the game on this flowing contemporary set, as guitarist McLean tackles swing standards, gloomy pop songs and three speedy, pulse-quickening original tunes. Alternating a precise, silvery acoustic sound with a biting electric tone, McLean matches nicely with Grazyna Auguscik's sweetly ethereal, delicately accented vocals. Saxophonist Jim Gailloreto adds buoyancy to several tunes, while organist Karl Montzka lurks in the... read more
Hal Galper Trio - Invitation to Openness
by Arturo Pepe, Tracce Di Jazz (Italy)
Hal Galper , born in 1938, is one of the great keyboard lions still in business, although he has limited performances, he continues to carry the sacred flame of jazz as an educator, being a Master who does not spare himself (the network is full of extracts from his masterclass) and who has also been able to make an important contribution in music publishing. In the clips that we propose below we find him at the red-hot keyboards of the... read more
Thomas Marriott - Both Sides Of The Fence
by Ken Dryden, All Music Guide
Thomas Marriott's second recording is a thoroughly impressive affair, recorded over two studio sessions a few months apart. With a band including pianist Marc Seales, bassist Jeff Johnson, and drummer John Bishop, the leader kicks off the disc with "Both Sides of the Fence," a driving post-bop original that showcases his lyrical chops on flugelhorn in an uptempo setting. Seales switches to electric piano for Marriott's rather dark "The... read more
Roberta Brenza - It's My Turn to Color Now
by Paul Abella, WDCB, Chicago
A vocalist who grew up near Chicago, and now finds herself back here again, Roberta Brenza recently released her debut album on Origin Records, It's My Turn to Color Now. She's joined by Sheila Jordan (obviously a big influence) and a band assembled by Matt Wilson for a batch of originals like the charming title track and standards (she does a wonderful job on "Bye Bye Blackbird"). If this first album is an indication of what we can expect in... read more
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