Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Mimi Fox - This Bird Still Flies
by Lou Fancher, The Mercury News
Shook up after a five-hour medical procedure and a nightmare surprise breast cancer diagnosis, jazz guitarist Mimi Fox stood, stunned, in a hospital parking lot. Swirling overhead in the night sky, a flock of birds chirped and sang a complicated, gorgeous, melodic song.
Months later, during treatment, the Vallejo-based composer and musician completed her replicated version of the tune. This "Bird Still Flies" is the title track of Fox's new,... read more
The Spin Quartet - In Circles
by Don Lerman, Cadence
The Spin Quartet consists of top-notch musicians who carve out an interesting group identity. The absence of a piano or guitar from the instrumentation of two horns, bass, and drums gives clarity and an open quality to the music, aided by the fine writing from mostly band members.
Trumpeter/flugelhornist Chad McCullough wrote five of the pieces, with the subdued "Oranges Are Supposed to be Orange" and bright-eyed "Haberdasher" among his... read more
Michael Orenstein - Aperture
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record
An LA based jazz piano cat t hat's paid his dues while being influenced by Herbie Hancock seems to have waited until just the right time to deliver his auspicious debut. Kind of smooth jazz with bite, this is top shelf sitting down jazz that moves and grooves with fine style and chops. Classy throughout, this is the tour de force you are always looking... read more
Mimi Fox - This Bird Still Flies
by Andrew Gilbert, Berkeleyside
When Mimi Fox talks about visiting Joe Pass, I picture the legendary guitarist sitting lotus position on top of a Himalayan peak, a cigar tucked firmly into the corner of his mouth as he utters cryptic jazz koans.
Gruff and avuncular, Pass wasn't really the guru type, but more than any other player of his era he mastered the lonely art of unaccompanied jazz guitar, recording a series of classic solo albums aptly titled Virtuoso. Some three... read more
Sam Yahel - Truth And Beauty
by Pico, www.blogcritics.org
Joey deFrancesco. Tony Monaco. Larry Goldings. Barbara Dennerlein. All at the forefront of the current generation of jazz organists and heirs to the mantle of Jimmy Smith, Charles Earland and Jack McDuff.
Oh yeah, there's one more notable: Sam Yahel. But with the release this week of his fourth effort Truth And Beauty, Yahel is making the case that there is still room for another distinctive voice in the well-established world of the Hammond... read more
Bobby Broom - My Shining Hour
by Matthias Kirsch, Gina Love Jazz (Berlin)
A collection of nine standards is the latest album by guitarist Bobby Broom. But this is not your typical standard fare - there is a Frederick Loewe song that hasn't been recorded very often ("The Heather On The Hill") and all of the tracks come to life by the shining arrangements for his trio which includes Dennis Carroll on bass and Makaya McCraven on drums.
Dave Grusin and Larry Rosen were responsible for recording his first album... read more
Maja Jaku - Blessed & Bewitched
by Editor, Jazz Journal (London)
Blessed & Bewitched is Maja Jaku's most personal and ambitious project, recorded at Bunker Studio, NYC. This all-original album fearlessly explores jazz emotional and spiritual depths raw, transcendent, and poetic. Leading a powerhouse ensemble featuring Johnathan Blake, Adrian Varady, Michael Rodriguez, Alan Bartus and Dezron Douglas, Maja brings her vision vividly to life. The album is a bold statement of authenticity, vulnerability, and... read more
Allison Adams Tucker - WANDERlust
by Dee Dee McNeil, Musicalmemoirs' Blog
This vocalist is quite extraordinary. She sings well in English, French, Portuguese, Italian, Spanish and Japanese on this groundbreaking recording. Yes, six languages and all sung with emotion, passion and sounding very authentic to this listener's ear. The singer and her longtime pianist, Josh Nelson, flew to New York and recorded with an International group of musicians. The results is a unique and pleasurable project. Tucker majored in... read more
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