Origin Records Reviews

Gregg Keplinger and Rick Mandyck - Tribute
by Jason West, Earshot Jazz

It seems fitting that, only days after last month's monster electrical storm descended upon Seattle, the duo of R. Mandyck and G. Keplinger unleashed sonic shockwaves of their own upon the local jazz community with the release of "Tribute."

For nearly an hour, fans of energy music can hear lightening burst from Mandyck's tenor, illuminating the heavens with bolts of melody, while Keplinger's drums crash and roll ubiquitous thunder. Six songs... read more

Chuck Owen & ReSurgence - Magic Light
by George W Harris, Jazz Weekly

Playing keyboard, piano, accordion and hammered dulcimer, Chuck Owen creates rural Cumberland Gap tones with a team of Sara Caswell/vi Jack Wilkins/sax, Corey Christiansen/g, Mark Neuenschwander/dr, Danny Gottlieb-Matt Wilson/dr, guest vocalist Kate McGarry/voc and a cameo horn section. The feel is a mix of Nashville and Tedeschi-Trucks with McGarry rich and bluesy around the slide guitar on "Spinning Wheel" and rural on the open plains on... read more

Michael Orenstein - Aperture
by George W Harris, Jazz Weekly

Pianist and composer Michael Orenstein brings together his core trio of Logan Kane/b and Myles Martin/dr in a mix and match collection with Barclay Moffitt/ts, Nicole McCabe/as, Sean Harrison/as-ss, Chase Jackson/vibe and Sam Klein-Markman/g through a collection of mostly originals. In the trio formant, Orenstein probs like an EENT on the rapid romp of "Slow Coffee" and jabs through a cleverly funkified take of the classic "Giant Steps". There... read more

Jon Alberts / Jeff Johnson / Tad Britton - Apothecary
by Ken Dryden, All Music Guide

One of the greatest challenges that jazz musicians face is seeking fresh approaches to well-known songs. Fortunately, pianist Jon Alberts has performed with his bandmates for the past two decades and they make familiar music sound new. Bassist Jeff Johnson and drummer Tad Britton make the most of the subtle take of "On Green Dolphin Street," in which Johnson's accompaniment and solo lines resist predictable paths and Britton's stripped-down drum... read more

Eddie Allen and PUSH - The Rhythm
by Ted Panken, DownBeat Magazine

4-STARS The Rhythm is Eddie Allen's second release by Push, as the veteran trumpeter calls the septet he first documented in 2014 with slightly different personnel. Allen's nicely juxtaposed, well wrought compositions and arrangements proceed to a broad array of grooves representing the various genres to which he's contributed the full-bodied tone, fluid phrasing and consummate technique that have earned the Milwaukee native first-caller... read more

Dominic J. Marshall - Spirit Speech
by Lance Liddle, Bebop Spoken Here (UK)

Gestating in the Womb.
a blind future which would destroy us.
a precocious potentiality
to elevate us toward the golden city walls of Ancient Egyptian demigods.
but it is the vibrations coming from outside.
celestial sound waves impinging on that foetal conciousness
that will make or break us.
and before we know if we want to be made or broken
time will pass us by like a shooting star,
leaving us alone again on this spherical blue... read more

Hal Galper Quartet featuring Jerry Bergonzi - Cubist
by Filipe Freitas, Jazz Trail

BEST ALBUMS OF 2018 Despite having recorded with names such as John Scofield, Michael and Randy Brecker, Cannonball Adderley, and Lee Konitz, it's very seldom to see the name of Hal Galper on lists of top-notch jazz pianists. However, he proves people wrong through a bunch of phenomenal albums released in an exciting career spanning fifty years.

On his most recent recording, Cubist, he is joined by longtime associates Jerry Bergonzi... read more

Hal Galper & the Youngbloods - Live at the Cota Jazz Festival
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record

Not so much of a passing of the torch as it is a lighting of the way, the 50 year jazzbo vet brings some young 'uns into the spotlight to bring his vision to a new generation of players and listeners. Highlighting the Delaware Water Gap sound as originally brought home by the Omnisound gang, Galper scans his back pages for tunes from 40 years ago that need a new focus and appreciation. A solid set where the stretching out is all on point,... read more

Looking for a specific review?

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.