Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Ben Thomas Tango Project - The Hat with the Grin and the Chuckle
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect
The multi-instrumentalist Ben Thomas treats us to 8 songs that are rooted in the traditional rhythms of Argentine tango, and he's got some excellent help for the unpredictable affair.
"The Promise Of Morning" opens with Thomas' animated bandoneon and Gabe Hall-Rodrigues' lively keys making for a unique energy, and "Sonia's Mask" follows with Eric Likkel's rich clarinet helping cultivate beauty amid the bandoneon and piano.
The middle... read more
John Stowell - Solitary Tales
by George Fendel, Jazzscene, April 2009
Anyone who has witnessed a performance by master guitarist John Stowell, knows that he is far from your everyday guitarist. From the nearly vertical position of the guitar (not unlike the position of a cello) to the artist's expression and his closed eyes, Stowell is nearly one with the guitar. On this solo expedition, he plays both acoustic and electric guitars in the Portland, Oregon living room of his luthier, Mike Doolin. Stowell plays five... read more
Mark Taylor with RadioAction - After Hours
by Dave Nathan, All Music Guide
Working with fellow Origin labelmates, alto/soprano saxophonist Mark Taylor delivers his maiden album, featuring four compositions written by him or by the piano player on the session, Whitney Ashe. The remaining four are works similarly fashioned out of the modern jazz mold. Taylor is one of those younger jazz players who perceives this musical genre has something more than dazzling technique, improvisations on standard pop material, or... read more
Marc Bernstein & Good People - Hymn For Life
by Robert Ratajczak, LongPlay: RadioJAZZ - Poland
[translated from Polish] The name Marc Bernstein, apart from concerts in 2012 and 2013 (ie 10.05.2013 at the Blue Note in Poznan) can be associated with such outstanding artists as Branford Marsalis, Michael Brecker, Billy Cobham and the famous Danish Klüvers Big Band (known even with the excellent album recorded with Mulgrew Miller, Grew's Tune, 2012). The list of famous musicians with which Bernstein has worked over the years is in... read more
Ben Thomas - The Mystagogue
by Nils Jacobsen, All About Jazz
Seattle vibraphonist Ben Thomas offers a swinging, pulsing quintet sound on his second release, The Mystagogue. Thomas augments his core vibe/piano quartet with one of three clarinet and saxophone players on most of the tracks on the record, lending a ever-changing fifth voice to the ensemble. While the combination of piano and vibes might suggest the danger of over-crowding the midrange, Thomas and pianist Laura Caviani respect each other's... read more
Mimi Fox - This Bird Still Flies
by Howard Mandel, Downbeat
4-STARS Proving she has nothing to prove on This Bird Still Flies, meticulous Bay Area guitarist Mimi Fox uses her 11th recording as leader or co-leader to showcase her utter mastery of the acoustic instrument. Mixing five originals with standards, Beatles songs and a national ode, the 62-year-old guitarists' guitarist here takes care to let every nuance of fingerwork and dynamic control shine.
"Get Away Blues" opens the album... read more
David Friesen Circle 3 Trio - Triple Exposure
by Ric Bang, Jazz Scan
I sometimes wonder what it must have been like, to be present at a concert given by one of the true masters. Well, I've never been lucky enough to catch bassist David Friesen in person, but - thanks to the magic of albums - I can listen to him any time I so desire. Anyone similarly lucky is blessed.
Friesen, now 74 years old, got his start with the ukulele at age 10; he graduated to the guitar six years later. At that point he was 19, during... read more
George Colligan & Theoretical Planets - Risky Notion
by Hobart Taylor, KUCI, Irvine, CA
Colligan is a renowned pianist composer who also whetted his chops on trumpet from time to time. On this new outing on Seattle's Origin label he switches to drums. He has worked with the great Jack DeJohnette and Billy Hart on some of his previous recordings, and some of it has rubbed off. He is a very melodic drummer, fluid, casual and precise. The tunes are slightly spacey post bop with some Latin Jazz whispers, and they are all killer no... read more
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