Perhaps we react to music in similar fashions. Sometimes from the opening notes and rhythms we make up our minds that a particular recording has it - that essence, that enigmatic thing that heads straight for where we live inside - the spirit song. Drummer Todd Bishop's new album Travelogue opens with a beat reminiscent of Horace Silver's "Song For My Father" set-up by bassist Chris Higgins and pianist Jasnam Daya Singh. Yet... read more
The core of Diverse was initially composed of four young musicians who were enrolled at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance. After winning the 2008 Gene Harris Jazz Competition in Boise, Idaho, the quartet became a quintet with the addition of pianist John Brewer. This, their debut recording, documents a collaborative collection of all-original material written by members of the group and showcases each... read more
The Austrian vocalist Maja Jaku brings her distinct voice to these 7 personal tracks that comprise this rich 5th album.
"The Witch" starts the listen with Dezron Douglas' emotive bass and Alan Bartus' intimate keys that suit Jaku's striking voice, and "I'm A Queen" follows with Johnathan Blake's strategic drums amid the expressive singing.
"Blessings Will Come" and "Never Let Me Go" land in the middle. The former has Jaku singing with a... read more
As we play out our lives in real time we trace the unfolding trajectory of the musical artists we gladly follow, so that each new album for example is not set in stone but plays upon the possibilities made available to the musical artist at any given point. In the case of bassist-bandleader Michael Bisio the new one is rather unexpected and in no way a kind of safe haven but rather a new set of risks entailed in a duet recording with... read more
There are a number of elements that can influence me as to whether or not I'll write about a CD. Music is of course, foremost, then packaging, historical importance and so forth. I have enjoyed MARLENE ROSENBERG's MLK CONVERGENCE [Origin Records 82781]. On display here is both Rosenberg's bass playing (she has a touch of Mingus there) as well as her sincere concerns regarding social justice that is missing in today's society, but what really... read more
It seems the jazz world has finally made Joni Mitchell an official member of the jazz composers canon. Vocalist Laurie Antonioli is the latest to delve into the rich songbook of the contemporary icon. Her voice has a hint of Mitchell's ironic folksiness, but with a dash of a harder edge. She teams up with the intriguing mix of reeds supplied by Sheldon Brown, Matt Clark's keyboards and along with Dave MacNab/g, John Shifflett/b and Jason... read more
The title of this debut recording from Seattle-based guitarist Martin Budde suggests the music has been percolating in the backwaters of his musical endeavors over the past few years. Indeed, that is the case, as the past five years have found Budde smack dab in the middle of the musical collective, Meridian Odyssey. The music was inspired by, and recorded during, the pandemic shutdown of 2020. This was a time when this collective of young... read more
A double disc of absolute substance is the one given to us by trombonist Michael Dease, born in 1982, a native of Augusta, Georgia, as well as his main mentor from Georgia, his colleague Wycliffe Gordon, older by a generation, a sort of institution in the field. Even Dease for several years can be considered as a true eminence of the instrument, although his name, in spite of the continuous placements in the DownBeat, won five times, is not very... 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