Back in the '60s, Dick Reynolds was the house pianist at Mr. Kelly's, Chicago's famous Rush Street club where stars like Sarah Vaughan and held forth. He also was a king of the commercial jingles jungle. Reynolds has been in retirement since 1996, but he doesn't sound retiring on Music and Friends, a lively, impeccably arranged big band effort whose original compositions range effortlessly from swing to Latin to funk.
With its... read more
Fans of John Scofield's '90s recordings should find much to enjoy on 'Shot Through With Beauty,' and not merely because the album features a new quartet led by guitarist John Stowell and saxophonist Michael Zilber personalizing two sharply contrasting Scofield compositions, "Wahasb III" and "The Beatles." The former tune boasts an arrangement with twisting harmonized lines, guitar and sax solos that shrewdly bridge R&B swagger and post-bop... read more
Brazilian Pianist, Jovino Santos Neto left Rio de Janeiro and relocated to Seattle in 1993. He established himself at Cornish College of the Arts, a thriving incubator of creativity, since the early 1900s. Within weeks his reputation spread. Musicians from all over were drawn to Jovino's unique blend of Brazilian, classical and jazz music. Neto formed a group with his fellow faculty members. This 'live' recording captures the first public... read more
This formative, saxophone, bass and drums is always the most intriguing, giving ample space to all three contributors. Drummer John Bishop is the leader and it's his kinetic underscoring that keeps this music together. Other capables, as Rick Mandyck on saxophone and Jeff Johnson on bass add inventive vectors throughout, especially on "All Day Pass." Then "Orange Blossom" blends an aphrodisiac blend of Paul Desmond and an Oscar Pettiford ver... read more
Reflections, the eighth CD as leader or co-leader by one of the Chicago area's most undervalued treasures, tenor saxophonist Mark Colby, is a tribute, he writes, to "the things that shaped and moved me when I was just a kid," as well as to friends, family and artists who nourished his growth and served as a catalyst for his becoming a musician. The studio date is dedicated to Colby's father, "who started me on my journey at age eight," and to... read more
Chicago saxophonist Geof Bradfield draws on music he encountered in his travels to Africa during a 2008 Rhythm Road tour with pianist Ryan Cohan's quartet. Cohan joins Bradfield here, along with trumpeter Victor Garcia, guitarist Jeff Parker, bassist George Fludas, and together the band delivers entrancing polyrhythmic themes like the melodic Rwandan praise song "Butare" and the danceable Congolese rumba "Lubumbashi," the latter a catchy clave... read more
What Tim Davies does is morphing musical dreams into themes of Kenton ultra dynamics. As the first suggests, Counting To Infinity,"with a Didjeridu opening...Almost like a flailing guitar open, down, instinctual and nasty. That's what a didjeridu will do for you. Whoa, that's different! Throws you in a magical way, doesn't it?
"Hanging On A Thread" creates a more con temporary rapturous interlude, and the Davies holes it up with a classic... read more
Taking the mantle of The Manhattan Transfer to the next level, the team of Peter Peter Eldridge, Lauren Kinhan, Darmon Meader and Kim Nazarian mix rich harmonies, vocalese and strong soloing in a wide range of jazz colors and palates. The vocal textures are oil color rich, as they display on the gorgeous a cappela p ieces "Los Tres Golpes" while giving some linguistic percussion to an R&B-ish "Moments in a Mirror." A palpable piano lurks as the... read more
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.
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