Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
John Moulder - Earthborn Tales of Soul and Spirit
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record
Chicago's own guitarist rounds up a crew of his jazzbo pals that have played with everyone everywhere that matters and leads them through the kind of set Paul Horn (if he played guitar) would have led them through 40 years ago if he were of the same like minded mysticism as Moulder. Influenced by those who were influenced by the far East and the search for enlightenment, it's not space case stuff, it's just on that corner where jazz meets... read more
Nnenna Freelon - Beneath the Skin
by Paul Abella, WDCB, Chicago
Nnenna Freelon's latest album, Beneath the Skin, is a concept album about looking within. Of the ten songs here, Freelon co-wrote nine of them. She certainly pulled together an amazing squad to bring these compositions to life, featuring Alan Pasqua on keys, Keith Ganz on guitar, Evan Roberson on trombone, Shana Tucker on cello, Jonathan Richards on bass and Steve Hass on drums, this band can play whatever Nnenna's got on her mind, from the... read more
Kobie Watkins - Involved
by Oscar Groomes, O's Place Jazz.com
Drummer Kobie Watkins leads a band with James Austin (p), Clark Sommers (b) and several talented musicians playing brass. Guitarist Bobby Broom is featured on "Expressions", the best of four Watkins originals. We also enjoyed "Congo" with Pharez Whitted (t) and Ryan Cohen on the keys. Geof Bradfield plays sax on five tracks notably the hot blues of "Third Pew". The pace and mode are varied but Kobie is always Involved with tight beats on drums... read more
Storms/Nocturnes - VIA
by Jerome Wilson, Cadence
Via features a more experienced British musician, saxophonist Tim Garland, working together as a trio with American pianist Keezer and vibes layer Locke, as they did a decade earlier. I've seen this group compared to the team of Gary Burton and Chick Corea, but of course there was no saxophone in that group. Garland adds an extra drive to the formal prettiness that Keezer and Locke set up whether he is dancing ceside them on soprano sax or... read more
Roxy Coss - Restless Idealism
by Dan McClenaghan, All About Jazz
4-STARS Upcoming saxophonist Roxy Coss opens her splendid Origin Records debut, Restless Idealism with a traditional approach on her original tune, "Don't Cross the Coss." It's a happy and assertive sound, and when she takes her first solo, her and robust tone bring Coleman Hawkins comes to mind. Coss and her band, churning along on a well-lubricated drive train of a terrific rhythm section, know how to open show - feet are tapping... read more
Joel Miller - Swim
by David Franklin, Cadence
Since 2001, the Canadian tenorist Joel Miller has released six recordings under his own name, the 2011 Swim being the latest. On this album, as on earlier ones, Miller shows himself to be an extraordinary saxophonist able to execute the most difficult technical passages with apparent ease. But he employs his technique not for show but in the service of a well-developed, creative melodic sensibility enhanced by an attractive Mintzer/ Brecker-like... read more
John Stowell / Dave Glenn & The Hawčaptak Quartet - Violin Memory
by Mark Sullivan, The Minor 7th
Guitarist John Stowell is a respected jazz player, known for his creative (and often difficult-to-play) chord voicings. That technique is very much in evidence in this set, but the focus is on his compositions. Trombonist Dave Glenn noticed that their duo performances had a chamber music quality, which inspired him to incorporate string quartet arrangements in this program. The core sound is still the duo: Stowell on nylon string guitar (plus a... read more
Ben Thomas - Triskaidekaphobia
by George Fendel, Jazz Scene, November 2005
Right off the bad, let's get to this rather unwieldy title. According to the album notes, the group recorded an untitled tune in 13/4 time. Acknowledging the challenge of such a meter, one of the players stated "all the more reason to fear the number 13." And that, apparently, is what this 17 letter word means: fear of the number 13. Okay with me, although I couldn't find it in my dictionary. Anyway, it's nice to see a younger generation... read more
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