Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Mimi Fox - Standards
by Dave Nathan, All Music Guide
Making a solo guitar album work is not an easy task. It's not enough to be a technical wizard; veteran Mimi Fox is that and more. You also have to be able to blend a tasteful play list, sensitivity to the music, enough fresh ideas so as not to become dull, and a certain flamboyance (but not so much that it overwhelms the listener). Fox achieves all of that and more on her fourth album as a leader. The play list is made up of standards - not only... read more
Joe Locke - Subtle Disguise
by Matthew Kassel, Downbeat
On his latest release, veteran vibraphonist Joe Locke opts mostly for his own compositions, with the exception of Bob Dylan's "Who Killed Davey Moore?" and Blind Willie Johnson's "Motherless Children," both of which feature ace singer-songwriter and guitarist Raul Midón in fine form.
Subtle Disguise is, for the most part, a satisfying collection of tightly arranged post-bop numbers, with elements of rock, funk and swing. Stylistically, it's... read more
Ray Vega & Thomas Marriott - Return of the East-West Trumpet Summit
by Dick Metcalf, Improvijazzation
Thomas is among the best trumpeters on the jazz scene today - no doubt about that... I reviewed him in issue # 152, and was impressed enough to give him very high ratings; on this new outing (January, 2016), he's added B-3 organist George Colligan, and that organ makes all the difference in the world for this keyboard player... you'll also hear trumpet/flugelhorn from Ray Vega and drums by Matt Jorgenson! Their version of Lee Morgan's "Totem... read more
John Stowell / Dave Glenn & The Hawčaptak Quartet - Violin Memory
by Mark Sullivan, The Minor 7th
Guitarist John Stowell is a respected jazz player, known for his creative (and often difficult-to-play) chord voicings. That technique is very much in evidence in this set, but the focus is on his compositions. Trombonist Dave Glenn noticed that their duo performances had a chamber music quality, which inspired him to incorporate string quartet arrangements in this program. The core sound is still the duo: Stowell on nylon string guitar (plus a... read more
Les DeMerle - Comin' Home Baby
by George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly
Drummer Les DeMerle leads a swinging band during a concert on a Celerity Eclipse Cruise Ship that toured from Copenhagen to Estonia. The crowd sure had a fun time between stops, as the team of DeMerle with Johannes Bjerregaard/p, Chris Luard/b and vocalist Bonnie Eisele keep the mood upbeat and swinging.
The recording itself is a bit tinny on the piano, but its hard to resist the bouncy instrumentals like "Shiny Stockings" and "Manteca" that... read more
Jeff Johnson - Near Earth
by Jeff Campbell, Double Bassist
Double bassist Jeff Johnson and his associates here present music that is both "in" and "for" the moment.This is not casual music, but it is music that demands to be heard. These three improvisers work as a unified team to create a sound that will both surprise and satisfy the discerning listener. A quote from Johnson in the liner notes gives some indication of the trio's direction:'What is the signal that makes a flock of birds or school of... read more
Deep Blue Organ Trio - Wonderful!
by Brandon Bernstein, Just Jazz Guitar
Chicago based musicians Bobby Broom (guitar), Chris Foreman (organ), and Greg Rockingham (drums) pay tribute to legendary musician Stevie Wonder with their release Wonderful! The album, which was released in August 2011 on Origin Records, is guitar/organ trio at its best and pays homage to Stevie Wonder by doing jazz arrangements of nine of Wonder's compositions. The musicians carefully listened to Wonder's compositions, memorizing the words so... read more
Collier & Dean - Duets
by Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
This collaboration by Tom Collier and Dan Dean is a bit reminiscent at times of Gary Burton and Steve Swallow, possibly because that project might have been the only previous set of vibes-electric bass duets. Vibraphonist Collier hints at Burton in spots, but also displays his own musical personality, particularly on the more boppish pieces, such as Gerry Mulligan's "Five Brothers" and "So What." Dean is a particularly fluent and witty electric... read more
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