Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Michael Zilber - East West: Music for Big Bands
by Marco Cangiano, The New York City Jazz Record
Michael Zilber's resumé is rich and varied, deserving much wider recognition. Originally from Canada, he spent the first part of his career in New York then moved across the country to San Francisco, where he now resides. This is by far his most ambitious project and first recording with big bands, following the very successful Originals for the Originals and the quartets he shared with guitar great John Stowell. Zilber's writing reflects a... read more
Jessica Williams - Billy's Theme: A Tribute to Dr. Billy Taylor
by Jack Bowers, All About Jazz.com
One great pianist deserves another. Billy Taylor, who needs no introduction to jazz fans around the world, is the honoree (tributary?) in this solo recital by longtime friend and ardent admirer Jessica Williams, who may need an introduction to some but can easily hold her own against the most accomplished pianists one cares to name.
As she has shown on many occasions (and recordings), Williams is a virtuoso with either hand or both. Her agile... read more
New York Voices - Reminiscing in Tempo
by Dr. Debra Jan Bibel, Amazon
Jazz vocal ensembles have a long history [recall the Mills Brothers of the 1930's, the Hi-Lo's quartet of the 1950s, Lamberts, Hendricks & Ross of the 1960s, and the Swingle Singers of the 1970s) and several are still active. While Manhattan Transfer continues in its second edition, the New York Voices, founded 30 years ago, continues largely intact. Their initial popularity was in the 1990s, and over the ensuing decades they recorded with big... read more
Scott Reeves - Portraits and Places
by Staff, Jazziz
Multi-instrumentalist, composer and educator Scott Reeves assembled his Jazz Orchestra eight years ago, but has just gotten around to recording with them. During that time, the City College of New York professor, who also taught at Juilliard among other prestigious institutions, has honed his big band's sound and the works he's written for them. The thrilling results can be heard on Portraits and Places (Origin), the Scott Reeves Jazz... read more
Aaron Immanuel Wright - Eleven Daughters
by Dick Crockett, AccessSacramento.com, "The Voice" 88.7FM
Bassist Aaron Immanuel Wright's debut CD indicate a cool rendering where music is demanding, melodic and confrontational, alternating competitive dissonance with translucence. Wright's bass lines are direct with a heavy distinct convulsive sound, learned from playing in many different environments, and with a degree in philosophy and music, performing and composing among the best jazz musicians in the world. Accompanied by mentor, educator and... read more
Scenes - Destinations
by Steve Wyzard, Amazon
Scenes have now released six albums for Seattle's Origin Records, and one doesn't have to look too far to find descriptions such as "introspective", "impressionistic", "haunted", "ethereal", "Sunday afternoon jazz", etc when their music is being discussed. I won't short-change 2017's Destinations album by calling it "more of the same", but would much rather praise the timeless consistency of their sound and performances. Guitarist John Stowell,... read more
Ryan Cohan - Originations
by Hrayr Attarian, Chicago Jazz Magazine
Pianist and composer Ryan Cohan is a master of creating harmony from contrasts. Over the years his works have incorporated many diverse influences and have become progressively more impressionistic. His acclaimed 2013 release The River even inspired painter Ellen Priest to create an abstract canvas that was displayed at St Peter's Church in Manhattan. Cohan's sixth release as a leader, the sublime Originations, matches his previous oeuvre in... read more
speak - Speak
by Peter Walton, Earshot Jazz
For many, introductions to the band Speak came with last April's Andrew D'Angelo benefit concert at the Chapel Performance Space at the Good Sheperd Center. Concluding a night of emotional performances from Wayne Horvitz, Bill Frisell, Cuong Vu, Robin Holcomb, and Eyvind Kang, the band, then billed as Cuong Vu's University of Washington Student Ensemble, was one of the evening's great surprises.
Speak's sprawling and unpredictable... read more
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