An entire disc of solo, improvised guitar music could easily run the risk of sounding like one continuous tune. Fortunately, Portand, Oregon-based guitarist John Stowell applies enough depth and open-minded searching to his nylon-string guitar to keep things interesting throughout Solitary Tales. The eleven-track disc was recorded live at the home of master guitar luthier Mike Doolin, who builds guitars for Stowell. Relying heavily on... read more
Joel Miller sings, plays sax, piano, guitar and percussion while Sienna Dahlen joins him in voice on this folksy collection with jazz sensibilities. Horns produced by David Carbonneau/tp and Dave Grott/tb ad textures to the guitars provided by Francois Jalbert and Jordey Tucker, while Simon Page/b and Kevin Warren/dr keep the pace steady. There's a synth pop feel to material like "Blue Times" and the folksy "Flying Dream" while the most jazzy... read more
On Bobby Broom Plays for Monk, Sonny Rollins veteran strummer Bobby Broom trots out an enjoyable collection of well-known Monk pieces. Monk's instrumental style was so idiosyncratic that few have dared follow him down that particular path so his influence has tended to be greater as a composer. Of course, he was also idiosyncratic as a composer too, but this is on of his strengths--no two Monk tunes sound alike. This makes it relatively easy... read more
Poetry is delivered in a variety of bohemian settings as saxist Benjamin Boone teams up with a rotating rhythm team as well as guests on this clever and Beat Generation session of the 21st Century. Craig Von Berg contributes Vince Guaraldi-styled piano for "Making Light of It" while cool bop tones are formed for Levine on "Gin." Chris Potter brings his warm tenor for some bop flavored narration on the sleek "The Unknowable" with Branford... read more
A fine environment - psychologically and acoustically - allows Williams to make one of her finest recordings yet. 5*****
Such a title might seem excessively self-promotional with most other jazz pianists on the scene today, but not so with Jessica Williams. She's one of the nation's musical treasures and one of the most distinctively original jazz pianists to be heard anywhere. This is her third CD for Origin, recorded live at... read more
SEATTLE BEAT
After a decade in New York, drummer Matt Jorgensen needed a change of scenery. His timing couldn't have been better. Returning to Seattle in 2002, Jorgensen not only established a reputation as a versatile sideman throughout the West Coast; he also helped operate a record label that was starting to receive attention. "The attraction of moving back to Seattle was being able to stay in one town and really have more of a home... read more
An inspired recording of tremendous passion and depth that takes the Joni Mitchell road less traveled. The immediate success of Songs of Shadow, Songs of Light could be linked to the less than predictable greatest hits collection other contemporaries are quick to offer up. Antonioli's band is first rate, A-list players such as bassist John Shifflett and a cameo from the great Theo Bleckmann opening the release with "People's Parties."... read more
Veteran drummer Rich Thompson ushers a lithe and swinging quartet through its paces on his latest album, Who Do You Have to Know? (the answer to which, alas, is not forthcoming). This is basically late-night jazz, the kind often reserved for after-hours jam sessions whose participants are fully engaged in the task at hand and hold nothing back.
On this studio session, Thompson's able co-partners are guitarist Corey Christiansen,... 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.
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