Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Mark Colby - Reflections
by Adam Greenberg, All Music Guide
He's been playing for quite a while, largely as a sideman, but Mark Colby makes his Origin debut here, part of a series of Chicago musicians who the label quietly picked up bit by bit, all with excellent and individual sounds. On Reflections, Colby takes aim at a tribute to the various musical influences he began with, leaning heavily on the Great American Songbook, but also including a few items from elsewhere in the jazz realm (an excellent... read more
Jeff Johnson - Suitcase
by Dan McClenaghan, All About Jazz
Bassist Jeff Johnson traveled the United States from the 1970s until 1990. He followed the work during his time of transience, and played an array of styles, from R&B to country, from blues to pop, and jazz. Then he put his suitcase down in Seattle and evolved into something of a house bassist for Origin Records, backing pianists Jessica Williams and Hal Galper, saxophonist Mark Taylor, vocalists Carrie Wicks and Jeff Baker, drummer John Bishop,... read more
Purna Loka Ensemble - Metaraga
by MEDUSA OF TROY, KFJC-FM, CA
For those well-versed in Indian classical styles, Western improvisation and geometric progressions in music, the album "Metaraga" is a fascinating melding of math and music, eastern and western music. For those who don't recognize all of the influences within this album, it is an interesting blend of sounds and tempos, with two violins (mathematician-violinist Purnaprajna Bangere and David Balakrishnan from Turtle Island String Quartet), bass... read more
Phil Kelly - Convergence Zone
by Jae Sinnett, Jazz Programmers List
"Convergence Zone" adds a much needed upgrade to what the jazz orchestras are dealing with today in terms of predictability. The arrangements are
challenging, fun and work only because of the quality of these musicians playing them. The sections are cohesive and beautifully in tune. The dynamic range of this band is refreshing. Jay Thomas is one of many standouts. Considering the overhead involved with making something like this work, give... read more
John Stowell & Dan Dean - Rain Painting
by Dan Bilawsky, All About Jazz
4-STARS Now here's a uniquely compelling set from two of the Pacific Northwest's great individualists on one of jazz's most stalwart imprints. Guitarist John Stowell and multi-hyphenate Dan Dean have each made their respective marks on many Origin dates in the past. The former's instruments have figured into more than 25 recordings there, from solo sets to duo meetings with Dave Liebman and sideman appearances to a string of albums with... read more
John La Barbera Big Band - Grooveyard
by Marc Myers, Jazz Wax
Jazz has long been blessed by a sizable number of sibling musicians. Most notably, there are the Joneses (Hank, Elvin and Thad), the Montgomerys (Wes, Buddy and Monk), the Mangiones (Chuck and Gap), the Heaths (Jimmy, Percy and Albert "Tootie" Heath), the Turrentines (Stanley and Tommy), the Adderleys (Cannonball and Nat), the Youngs (Lester and Lee), the Candolis (Pete and Conte), the Breckers (Michael and Randy) and the Marsalises (Branford,... read more
Ben Thomas - Triskaidekaphobia
by John Henry, Audiophile Audition
Ten tracks here are originals by Thomas and several of them have to do with animals. Eric Likkel is credited with the 11th track. Don't let the album title throw you - it's not indicative of a far-out loft jazz trip but simply the medical term for fear of the number 13. The title track is indeed in 13/4 time - shades of Don Ellis and Dave Brubeck. The tunes are fun and varied with sometimes only two or three members of the sextet playing on a... read more
Charlie Ballantine - East by Midwest
by Editor, Modern Drummer
By listening to guitarist Charlie Ballantine, I would say that stylistically he is leaning further to the Bill Frisell, John Scofield, Pat Metheny side of jazz guitar than Jim Hall, Joe Pass, Wes Montgomery. I offer these names as only an explanation of my perceived interpretation of Ballantine's musical direction. Bassist Quinn Sternberg and drummer Dan Weiss support Ballantine's direction perfectly. Mixing some of his originals with Monk and... read more
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