Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Joel Miller - Swim
by Shirley Noel, Info-Culture Quebec
This very talented musician--who is now in his sixth album--is known for his explorations he did mostly out in his last two albums, Mandala and Tantramar. This time, he returned to more traditional jazz, but was fantastically creative. This saxophone virtuoso who first touched this instrument at the age of 10 and who started learning jazz from the age of 13 is completely in his element on this album. He takes exhilarating solos,... read more
Brad Goode Quintet - That's Right!
by Herb Boyd, Downbeat
4-STARS Practically every possible sound explodes from Brad Goode's trumpet on That's Right! Goode's pyrotechnics begin with a flourish on "Half Moon," and his full-throated melodic lines quickly are repeated by Ernie Watts on tenor saxophone; his passages equal and often extend Goode's solos and ideas. On "Regret," essentially a ballad, Goode makes a spectacular ascent up the scales, before settling into a relaxed mode. But even here,... read more
Anthony Branker & Imagine - What Place Can Be for Us?
by Matt Collar, All Music Guide
Although he doesn't play any of the instruments on 2023's What Place Can Be for Us?, Anthony Branker's vibrant jazz sensibilities and identity as a first-generation Black American of Caribbean descent are at the core of the album's pulsing character. A longtime professor at Princeton and Rutgers, Branker started out playing trumpet, but health issues following two brain aneurysms in the late '90s forced him to refocus his attention on composing,... read more
Deep Blue Organ Trio - Wonderful!
by Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
It's always amusing when a jazz snob claims that jazz and classical are the only legitimate forms of music and that popular culture, past and present, has no artistic value whatsoever. Typically, those who make such ludicrous statements will turn around and sing the praises of The Great American Songbook, meaning prolific Tin Pan Alley pop composers such as George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Harry Warren and Cole Porter; in other words, they are... read more
Dan Cray - Meridies
by Dan Bilawsky, All About Jazz
Change is never easy, but it's often the key to growing as a person and an artist. Pianist Dan Cray has released a series of well-received CDs and carved out a comfortable musical existence with his trio in Chicago, but he understood that a change of scenery and a jump into jazz's deep end would do him good.
Cray made the move to New York City in 2009, but Meridies is the first outing released under his name since that time. He stayed busy... read more
Michael Orenstein - Aperture
by S Victor Aaron, Something Else!
The untold positive story in jazz today is that there are still so many young men and women who are incredibly talented jazz musicians and willing to keep this genre alive, and for no other reason than being passionate about this music. One of these who has only in the last few years who has entered the scene is pianist and composer Michael Orenstein.
Already, Orenstein comes as a 2021 graduate (masters) from University of Southern... read more
Hal Galper Trio - Invitation to Openness
by George W Harris, Jazz Weekly
Veteran pianist Hal Galper is teamed with like minded mates Billy Mintz/dr and Tony Marino/b for a 2008 "live in studio" session. Galper's touch is classy on his intro to a glowing "Embraceable You" that has the bassist pop the clutch and change gears to turn into a romp, while the leader keeps the current steady for is opening for the flavorful "Ambleside". Mintz rides the whip for the leader's blue ivories on "Winter Heart" and is playful and... read more
Alon Farber Hagiga - Dreams I Dream
by Michael van Gee, Jazz'N'More (Switzerland)
4-STARS For me, it's always surprising how many first-class musicians and bands come from Israel, offering innovative sounds, including saxophonist Alon Farber, who founded his quartet Hagiga back in 2001 and has recorded four albums. Now his fifth album has been released, once again underscoring Farber's creativity and ability to create a unified work of art from very different musical styles and traditions. His long-time, outstanding... read more
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