Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Alison Ruble - This Is A Bird
by JACK WALTON, South Bend Tribune
On her debut album, "This Is a Bird," jazz vocalist Alison Ruble creates an atmosphere where nostalgia and innovation go hand-in-hand.
Even the artwork and album title reflect this. Ruble discovered a box of old letters that her mother and grandmother had written to each other, and snippets of the women's handwriting appear on the cover and in the CD booklet.
"I'm somewhat of a nostalgic person," Ruble says on her cell phone while... read more
Big Neighborhood - Neighbors
by Peter Monaghan, Earshot
Measuring instrumental jazz isn't, on reflection, that different a task from considering vocal jazz. Again, the crux is being convinced by it all, and that's as subjective as it is arguable and, ideally, defensible.
I like Big Neighborhood's Neighbors (Origin). It is purposeful, unusual, innovative jazz of a variety that isn't going to scare anybody - for reasons good and bad, that seems, certainly, often to be a measure of jazz... read more
Anthony Branker and Word Play - Uppity
by Robert Ratajczak, LongPlay | RadioJAZZ.FM 35, Poland
Composer, conductor and director of the University Jazz [Program] in Princeton, Anthony Branker has created an excellent musical project by engaging with the leaders of American jazz; musicians: saxophonist Ralph Bowen, trombonist Andy Hunter, Eli Asher trumpeter, pianist Jim Ridl and drummer Donald Edwards.
The album opens with the funky rhythm maintained in ?Let's Conversate!? in which the saxophone and trombone lead the title conversation... read more
Peter Epstein and Idée Fixe - Abstract Realism
by Adam Greenberg, All Music Guide
Idee Fixe's method to music creation is a particularly improvised route. Rather than using composed sets, they improvise the backbone of jazz collectively. However, they go further -- they had no prior discussions, no (or rare) starting points from which to build. They simply start exploring ideas together while recording, leading to a particularly free format of jazz. The pieces on Abstract Realism tend to start out sparse, with a tone or two... read more
Kelly Brand Nextet - The Door
by Jeff Wanser, CD Hotlist: Baker & Taylor
The Door opens into a set of fine original compositions and arrangements by Chicago pianist Brand. To some extent this is a family affair, with her husband, Kelly Sill, on bass, and her daughter Naomi guesting on cello, but she gets much of her help from other folks on sax, flute, trumpet, drums, and occasional vocals. Her fourth CD, this is squarely contemporary, with excellent arrangements, tasteful solos, and beautiful melodies throughout.... read more
Jessica Williams - Songs of Earth
by Britt Robson, JazzTimes
If there were a lifetime achievement award for Talent Deserving of Wider Recognition, this veteran West Coast pianist would have it in her criminally modest trophy case. Her sixth disc for the Origin label supposedly differs from the others for its heavy emphasis on spontaneous composition, with the material culled from live solo performances over the past few years at the Triple Door in Seattle, near her home. But just as Williams has... read more
David Friesen Circle 3 Trio - Triple Exposure
by Brian Zimmerman, Downbeat
EDITOR'S PICK, DEC, '16 David Friesen's new album with his Circle 3 Trio is a deeply personal statement, from the clean, stimulating compositions that form the bulk of the disc to the original mixed-media collage that adorns the cover. As such, the music here feels buttressed by the support of real life experience, and almost always the listener gets the sense that highly individuated musical concepts are in play. The group wrestles... read more
Eric Jacobson - Heading Home
by George W Harris, Jazz Weekly
Vintage hard bop in the realm of Horace Silver and Art Blakey is served up by trumpeter Eric Jacobson and his quintet of Geof Bradfield/ts, Bruce Barth/p, Dennis Carroll/b and George Fludas/dr on this album of Blue Note-based originals. Barth taps into his inner Herbie Hancock on the rapid run of "Survival" and is jivey on the hip blues "Pause Time". Jacobson is mellow and sleek on "My Love for Amy" and forms a boogaloo line with the big and... 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.
Search Reviews:
Recently Added Reviews:
Abate Berihun & The Addis Ken Project - Addis Ken
by Hanna Kay, Cult News (Paris)
Abate Berihun & The Addis Ken Project - Addis Ken
by Budapest, Rudolf Radnai
Abate Berihun & The Addis Ken Project - Addis Ken
by Editor, Bman's Blues Report
Jared Hall - Hometown
by Editor, Bman's Blues Report
Dawn Clement - Dear Ms. Dearie
by Editor, Bman's Blues Report
Jared Hall - Hometown
by Dee Dee McNeil, Making A Scene
Affinity Trio - New Outlook
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect
Michael Dease Big Band - Return Trajectory
by Thierry De Clemensat, Paris Move
Brad Goode Quintet Feat. Ernie Watts - Live Your Dream: Live at North Street Cabaret
by Thierry De Clemensat, Paris Move
Maja Jaku - Blessed & Bewitched
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect