Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Rich Thompson - Less Is More
by Scott Albin, JazzTimes
In his infinite wisdom, drummer Rich Thompson brought in Terell Stafford for this recording session. Stafford has slowly but surely become one of the preeminent jazz trumpeters, stealing the show as a sideman on a number of CDs, not to mention his own most recent release, This Side of Strayhorn. Thompson also showed great care in formulating the song list for Less is More, mixing originals and standards with far-from-overdone tunes by Kenny... read more
Clarence Penn - Monk: The Lost Files
by Britt Robson, JazzTimes
It is a testament to how singular and beloved the music of Thelonious Monk is that the slightest changes to it can be unsettling. Almost from the moment drummer Clarence Penn and his quartet Penn Station launch into "Well, You Needn't," Monk devotees will feel like something is off. The overall tone is more flippant than wry, words are being whispered in the background, and the piano and bass are electric. The intent is not blasphemous: On this... read more
Kobie Watkins - Involved
by Brian Gilmore, JazzTimes
Drummers as leaders often have a difficult time putting
their imprint on recordings. Chico Hamilton, the L.A. legend and
giant, is the model for today's drummers. Chicago's Kobie Watkins on his album, "Involved" takes the leadership idea seriously. He plays, composes, and has assembled a group of very talented players to speak to the masses. Most of all, like Hamilton, Watkins does not fade into the background. His imprint on this recording is... read more
Various Artists - Modern Jazz: A Collection of Seattle's Finest Jazz
by Adam Greenburg, All Music Guide
A nice compilation of the lighter and somewhat more mainstream end of the Origin label's growing catalog of Seattle jazzers. With a number of artists represented, the mainstay of the album is a focus with something of a modern bent. There are aspects of post-bop to be heard, and slight references to the third stream set, but far and away, the bulk of the material is based in contemporary instrumental jazz. The piano plays heavily in all or most... read more
Bob Sneider & Joe Locke - Nocturne for Ava
by Ric Bang, The Davis Enterprise
Some of the best jazz released is what I call "stealth" jazz: the music composed for and used in movie soundtracks. Unfortunately, the better the movie, the less one is likely to pay close attention to the soundtrack; its purpose is to accent what's happening on the screen...so, in a sense, if the score does its job properly, it's self-defeating. That's what soundtrack albums are for.
When you list the best movies you've seen, more often... read more
Brittany Anjou - Enamigo Reciprokataj
by Elzy Kolb, Hot House Jazz Guide (NYC)
Pianist Brittany Anjou divides her time between her Brooklyn home and a long-term gig in Kuwait, where she teaches jazz theory and more to kids and adults. "The students are hungry for jazz, and want to understand theory. Any time I travel and play abroad, people are really listening, it's like you're valued more there," she says. "In Kuwait, the people are focused on the melody. At house concerts, people care in a different way" than in other... read more
John La Barbera Big Band - Grooveyard
by George W Harris, Jazz Weekly
Best known for his work with the big bands of Buddy Rich and Buddy DeFranco, John LaBarbera forms a big band that includes brothers Joe/dr and Pat/ts-ss along with all star guests including Steve Wilson/as-fl, Clay Jenkins/tp, Ryan Keberle/tb, Rufus Reid/b and Renee Rosnes/p-key for a hard hitting mix of originals and modern jazz covers.
There's a soulful title track that has Pat tapping into his inner Coltrane on the swaying "Grooveyard"... read more
Mimi Fox - Standards, Old & New
by Ian MacGregor, Jazz Guitar Society of Western Australia
Recording a solo jazz guitar album is no mean feat and even many of the great players have declined to record a whole album solo. It takes a combination of all your technical skill, instant ideas and the bravery and confidence to execute it, and this being Mimi Fox?s third recording of solo guitar pieces it is evident she has mastered the art. Mimi impressed local audiences with her appearance at the Fremantle Jazz Festival in Jan 2002 and in... read more
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