Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Tad Britton - Cicada
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record
Oh sure, Britton and his pals are now some of the most creative cats on the west coast, but what were they doing 25 years ago in Oklahoma? If you want to find out, put on this progressive session that doesn't sound dated. Released for the first time, it's a solid set of that angular, boundary pushing jazz playing that comes when just a few cats get together to see just how far they can take it. One of those nice looks back at what might have... read more
Tom Collier - Across the Bridge
by George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly
GUITAR HEAVEN! Why would I make that headline for an album put together by a guy who plays vibes and marimba? Well, what Tom Collier did was bring in two of today's most important guitarists, Larry Coryell and Bill Frisell, and even through in his bassist Dan Dean for a few swipes at the 6 strings. Then John Bishop and Ted Poor trade off at drums, and yet get some rock oriented jazz, or jazz oriented rock.
Coryell teams with marimba... read more
Nnenna Freelon - Time Traveler
by Paul Abella, WDCB (Chicago)
It has been entirely too long between albums from Nnenna Freelon. Discounting a Christmas album from 2012, the last we heard from Freelon was in 2010. She's back in 2021 with Time Traveler, an album recorded in the wake of her husband's long term illness and death in 2019. Considering the tragedy and heartache surrounding the album, it's an astonishingly upbeat affair. Even the songs that could have been maudlin, like "Time in a Bottle," instead... read more
Affinity Trio - Hindsight
by Carmel DeSoto, Jazz Music Archives
Gather around, class! Take a seat, maybe even recline a little. Today, we're not just talking theory or history; we're exploring the here and now of jazz with Affinity Trio's debut album "Hindsight." Let me put on my reviewer's hat—or should I say, my reviewer's shades? Let's dig into this.
The Affinity Trio, comprised of Eric Jacobson on trumpet, Pamela York on piano, and Clay Schaub on bass, has embarked on a journey less... read more
Hadley Caliman - Gratitude
by George Fendel, Platter Chatter
Seattle resident, Hadley Caliman actually got his start gigging on LA's Central Avenue with the likes of Art Farmer, Dexter Gordon and Gerald Wilson, among numerous others. At some point, he was influenced by the sound of John Coltrane, and it's the Coltrane thing which you can hear in the high energy opener, "Back For More," and on many other selections as well. For this recording Caliman chooses to work with a rather unusually constructed... read more
Michael Waldrop Big Band - Time Within Itself
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record
A vet of the North Texas Lab Band, you don't argue with Waldrop's chops. Leading a modern big band like it was something he was born to do, Waldrop has his eye and ear on the proceedings like a mother hawk watching over her young 'uns making sure everything stays straight and true for them. Disregarding any elements that made big band corny in the 50s and 60s as it tried to stay hip, this is first call instrumental music no matter what... read more
Eric Jacobson - Heading Home
by George W Harris, Jazz Weekly
Vintage hard bop in the realm of Horace Silver and Art Blakey is served up by trumpeter Eric Jacobson and his quintet of Geof Bradfield/ts, Bruce Barth/p, Dennis Carroll/b and George Fludas/dr on this album of Blue Note-based originals. Barth taps into his inner Herbie Hancock on the rapid run of "Survival" and is jivey on the hip blues "Pause Time". Jacobson is mellow and sleek on "My Love for Amy" and forms a boogaloo line with the big and... read more
Bobby Rozario - Spellbound
by Russell Perry, WTJU
From the first note of guitarist Bobby Rozario's new release, Carlos Santana sprang to mind and wouldn't go away. Quickly, this became less of a liability (hasn't Santana already done this) and more of an asset (I always loved this sound, especially those first several Columbia records). Recorded over a number of sessions, the instrumentation and personnel varies from track to track. Careful listening reveals that Rozario is not a one-trick... read more
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