Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Bob Sneider & Paul Hofmann - Serve and Volley
by Bill Milkowski, JazzTimes
These intimate duos mark the third such encounter between guitarist Bob Sneider and pianist Paul Hofmann, both faculty members at the Eastman School of Music. They exhibit an easy rapport on the jaunty opener, "Warm Welcome," a riff on "All God's Chillun Got Rhythm" that culminates in some sparkling exchanges and bristling unison lines. They settle into sublime conversations on Hofmann's gentle "Grace" and his waltzy-time "I Remember Bill... read more
Rich Thompson - Generations
by George Fendel, Oregon Jazz Scene
This is actually a standard piano trio with dummer Thompson in a leadership role. Of the nine tunes included, seven are original compositions by trio members. A few comments on the two standards might be in order. ?I Hear a Rhapsody? is explored from every angle by pianist Chris Ziemba. He finally states the melody line the ?last time around,? making this an intensely creative and rewarding version of the classic tune. The other familiar melody... read more
Bobby Broom - The Way I Play: Live In Chicago
by Paul Christopher Dowd, All About Jazz
On his album, The Way I Play, Bobby Broom explores the more traditional guitar-led trios in the manner of Wes Montgomery and Kenny Burrell. Broom, now in his second stint as a sideman with Sonny Rollins, made his Carnegie Hall debut with the sax legend at the tender age of 16. He has also played with Burrell, Stanley Turrentine, Dr. John and Miles. The Way I Play is the first live recording for his band, which includes longtime bassist Dennis... read more
David Friesen - Structures
by Chris Lunn, Ancient Victorys
This double CD release has Friesen on Hermage bass sharing with two artists; first, Joe Manis saxophone, recorded live in Uzhhorod, Ukraine; and the second, Larry Koonse, guitarist, recorded by Peter Schwartz in Phoenix, Arizona. Compositions on both discs are all by David Friesen. CD with Manis has "Wrinkle" with Friesen walking the bass and the sax of Manis coming over the top with just a quick statement. Then they start toying, having fun... read more
Bongwool Lee - My Singing Fingers
by Dan Ouellette, DOWNBEAT
Bongwool Lee's Jazz Epiphany
Call it a revelatory jazz moment. As a classical music prodigy in Seoul, South Korea, pianist Bongwool Lee was listening to the radio one day when she heard the graceful but sturdy sound of Oscar Peterson.
"I'd listened to the radio every day since I was very young," said Lee, who today is based in New York. "When I heard Oscar Peterson on the radio, it changed my life immediately. I was 16 and I decided... read more
Anthony Branker - Beauty Within
by Philip Booth, JazzTimes
Composer-arranger Anthony Branker, former longtime jazz studies guru at Princeton, turns to his new Imagine quintet for his latest set of forward-looking acoustic-electric pieces. From the titles to the haunting, sometimes meditative textures, a spiritual core seems to inform these imaginative compositions, brought to life via a band featuring saxophonist Ralph Bowen, a longtime Branker associate, and guitarist Pete McCann.
That yearning... read more
Michael Orenstein - Aperture
by Jack Bowers, All About Jazz
California-based pianist Michael Orenstein's debut album, Aperture, consists almost entirely of his original compositions, performed by a core trio of Orenstein; bassist Logan Kane and drummer Myles Martin with guest artists on half of the studio session's ten numbers. Even though those visitors make a strong impact, it is Orenstein's eloquent voice which speaks loudest and most decisively, making each number a touch higher and more engaging... read more
Jeff Johnson - Tall Stranger
by Doug Simpsom, Audiophile Audition
Seattle's jazz scene is not well known for music that strays from a melodically mainstream focus. Emerald city bassist Jeff Johnson, though, has been producing challenging music that courses from avant-garde to stripped-down European-tinted free jazz, and his fourth album, Tall Stranger, finds the composer/player once again presenting liberating, sparse forms that stress trio improvisation.
Johnson is expertly abetted by friend and... read more
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