RINGER OF THE WEEK Glorious musical journeys to far a way lands both acoustic and electric are delivered by trombonist Doug Scarborough and his wide ranging team of violinist Akram Abdulfattah, pianist Jeremy Siskind, bassist Damian Erskine, drummer Reinhardt Melz and Mustafa Boztuy on the hand percussive darbuka. The themes range widely, going from a table dance between the leader and Siskind on "Imaginal Cells" to a get down funk fest... read more
Vocalist Kelly Harland has been singing for a long, long time. I'm sure you've heard her, but I'm also sure - unless you're a music insider - that you don't know her.
Why? Because she's what is known as an "on-call" studio and backup vocalist. This Seattle-based artists is one of the many folks who make singing commercials and is hired by visiting "name" acts, to be part of background vocal groups that support the shows.
"Long Ago and Far... read more
Bassist Harvie S can proudly boast, this is his 21st album release as a band leader. He is also one of the most respected and sought after bass voices in the jazz music arena. For this project, the bass master has composed eight out of ten songs.
The quartet opens with "Ghosts of Havana," a melodic, low-key, original composition by Harvie S. On this tune, Miki Hayama explores her solo on the Fender Rhodes. One thing that's noticeable right... read more
An innovative German cool school guitarist whose idea of cool school is laid back Wes rather than standard ECM, he comes in with a solid set of jazz for the mind that any fan of sitting down jazz will recognize as top shelf. Well played and well planned, this is certainly a guitar player of note leading the... read more
I've been residing in Los Angeles for approximately two decades, and there are things I've come to really love about this city. Certain places, certain buildings, even certain roads. There really is a special feel to this city, which when looked at in a certain light can be almost magical. Fellow Los Angeles resident Josh Nelson explores different areas of the city on his new album, The Sky Remains. He is interested in capturing and conveying... read more
a no-frills bebop date recorded live at a Chicago-area steakhouse with bassist Dennis Carroll and snappy drummer Kobie Watkins. Best known for his long tenure with Sonny Rollins, Broom's solos have a soulful and bluesy bite, a gritty bob and weave as his lines snake through the harmony. There's nothing complicated to the eight standards here, and in some ways the record is woefully under-produced.
But casualness is the point. This is what... read more
The best jazz recordings of 2020 to date: Savvy listeners already know that Chicago pianist-composer Cohan has a well-honed gift for writing long-form jazz compositions. It reaches a high point in "Originations," a suite Cohan performed to vivid effect at the Hyde Park Jazz Festival in 2018. The new recording deepens earlier favorable impressions of the piece, which amounts to a series of tone poems in which Cohan explores his Middle... read more
What is the Wellstone Conspiracy? For some political intrigue junkies it alludes to the 2002 death of liberal Senator Paul Wellstone who perished in a small plane crash which some pundits believe was caused by an assassination scheme. For Pacific Northwest jazz fans, however, Wellstone Conspiracy is a skilled quartet which formed in 2006 to back up Idaho-based soprano saxophonist Brent Jensen. The musicians were last heard together on Jensen's... 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