Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Benjamin Boone - The Poets Are Gathering
by Doug Munro, The Munro Review
LED BY BENJAMIN BOONE, THIS RUMBLE OF A 'GATHERING' OFFERS A SEARING POETICAL TAKE ON TROUBLING TIMES
People who know him probably think of Benjamin Boone, Fresno's composer-saxophonist-poetry-lover extraordinaire, as an optimistic guy. I certainly do. His visage naturally leans far toward the friendly. But when he's serious — or artistically vexed — his face lets you know it.
That face is on display in the marketing material... read more
Tom Collier - Alone in the Studio
by Chris Lunn, Ancient Victorys
Collier, a brilliant composer musician on vibraphone, marimba, piano and drums, recorded this entire CD in his own studio, a recording home he has perfected for decades. So he moves easily from solos to entire ensemble pieces showcasing the various instruments he palys. It is inventive and you will feel very much the talent of the writing, arranging, and playing in these eleven tunes.
"Little Green Thing" has lovely, light solo vibes, very... read more
Jeff Johnson - Suitcase
by Ken Dryden, All Music
Bassist Jeff Johnson has gotten recognition for his intuitive playing in Hal Galper's trio. His fifth CD as a leader is a free-spirited affair, where a lot of the music sounds improvised on the spot or with minimal sketches at best. Johnson is heard on both acoustic and Fender basses, and his group includes pianist Steve Moore, drummer Eric Eagle, and multi-reed player Hans Teuber. The opener, "Shake It Off," is a brief free jazz group... read more
Shawn Purcell - 180
by C. Michael Bailey, Wild Mercury Rhythm
Dr. Shawn Purcell, originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a jazz guitarist, educator, arranger, and composer living in the Washington DC region. Purcell earned a BS from Duquesne University, an MA in Music from Middle Tennessee State University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Jazz Performance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He managed to do this after a career in the US Air force where he performed with a number of... read more
Dave Hanson - Blues Sky
by Dan McClenaghan, All About Jazz
Pianist Dave Hanson opens his Blues Sky with a joyful barnburner, "Two Masters," a tip of the hat to Bill Evans and Chick Corea, two of the biggest names in piano jazz. Hanson is probably best known for his work as composer-arranger and co-leader of Denver's H2 Big Band, but he pares things down on his Blues Sky album release, thanks in part to a weeklong artist-in-residence gig at Denver's Dazzle Jazz club, which allowed him... read more
Dick Reynolds - Music & Friends
by Lloyd Sachs, Jazzespress
Back in the '60s, Dick Reynolds was the house pianist at Mr. Kelly's, Chicago's famous Rush Street club where stars like Sarah Vaughan and held forth. He also was a king of the commercial jingles jungle. Reynolds has been in retirement since 1996, but he doesn't sound retiring on Music and Friends, a lively, impeccably arranged big band effort whose original compositions range effortlessly from swing to Latin to funk.
With its... read more
Cathy Segal-Garcia & Phillip Strange - Live in Japan
by Derek Ansell, Jazz Views (UK)
This two CD collection offers two and a half hours of duets by Ms Segal-Garcia and pianist Phillip Strange. They had been touring Japan and Europe for some years at the time and had previously recorded a quartet disc and an earlier duo session. You might wonder why it has taken so long for this set to be released but small DAT tapes can easily be left in drawers or on shelves and forgotten. The music consists of 21 standards, all familiar... read more
Ben Patterson Jazz Orchestra - Mad Scientist Music
by George W Harris, Jazz Weekly
Composer and trombonist Ben Patterson puts together a modern sounding big band through some swinging originals. The charts give a hint of Count Basie, as the sections jab from the side like a middleweight boxer on the Rat Packish "The Mixup" featuring the tenor saxes of Tedd Baker and Xavier Perez". Likewise, the reeds are velvety and brass polished as they warmly frame Patterson's trombone on "Anne Marie" and they create bold declarations... read more
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