Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Xose Miguélez - Ontology
by Matt Micucci, Jazziz
Internationally renowned Spanish saxophonist-composer Xose Miguelez's latest album, Ontology, began with his research on traditional Galician music. That research led him to a discovery of a recording by ethnic musicologist Dorothé Schubart of a ballad sung by his own great-aunt Amparo almost 40 years ago in a village in the Galician hills named Cerdedelo-Laza. The first-four note motif at the beginning of this ballad is the root of all... read more
Dan Dean - 251
by Larry Taylor, JazzReview.com
Bassist Dan Dean shows his talent and versatility on the superb 2 5 1. This CD takes its title from the familiar turnaround that is a key element in the harmonic progression of many classic songs. The 11 numbers here include ten standards and one George Duke composition. They all utilize this musical pattern, but listeners can ignore the technical and just enjoy the music.
Each track is set in a duo concept with various top musicians on piano,... read more
Clay Giberson - Upper Road
by Paul West, All About Jazz
Like a lot of seasoned, contemporary jazz pianists, Clay Giberson creates music that just about always works, but always works its most magic when it takes chances and breaks free from tradition. It's not so much a problem in contemporary jazz as it is an ever-so-slightly unfulfilled promise: it's music that is fine, damn fine even, for what it is, but always hints at going somewhere a little more special.
With Upper Road, Giberson and an... read more
Jessica Williams - Songs of Earth
by Ric Bang, JazzScan
Pianist/composer Jessica Williams is an elite musicians who is so well known that she needs little introductory or background verbiage to inflate reviews of her albums. Like many pianists, she began her studies with the classics and switched to jazz during her teens. Unlike most beginners, however ? who start out playing with unknowns ? Williams was associated with icons from the get-go; her first group was headed by Miles Davis drummer Philly... read more
Marc Seales - People & Places
by Dee Dee McNeil, Making a Scene
The Marc Seales project starts out sweetly. His original tune is called "Rue Cler" and Ernie Watts is featured on tenor saxophone. His emotionally charged sax enchants, as Ernie introduces us to the melody. This tune is followed by Wayne Shorter's "Palladium" composition, arranged as straight-ahead jazz, played at a moderate tempo. This is not Seales' first recording with Ernie Watts. They released "New Stories, Speakin' Out" in... read more
Mark Zaleski - OUR TIME: REIMAGINING DAVE BRUBECK
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect
The saxophonist Mark Zaleski pays homage to his mentor, Dave Brubeck, across these 7 tracks, where Jon Bean, Mark Cocheo, Danny Weller, Oscar Suchanek, Michael Mayo, and his brother, Glenn Zaleski, put a modern twist on old songs.
"Blue Rondo á la Turk" leads the listen with a very unique, rhythmic delivery that's quite smooth and stylish, and displays quivering sax prowess alongside Weller's bouncy bass and Glenn Zaleski's key acrobatics,... read more
Hal Galper Quartet featuring Jerry Bergonzi - Cubist
by Doug Ramsey, Rifftides
In his album notes, pianist Galper writes that he was unaware of what "an interesting and unique composer" his longtime bass-playing associate Jeff Johnson is. The three pieces that Johnson contributed to Cubist leave no doubt about his writing ability. The title tune plus "Kiwi," "Artists" and "Scene West" give Galper, Johnson and drummer John Bishop plenty of challenging material. They make the most of it. Galper's post-bop credentials with... read more
Mike Pope - The Parts You Keep
by MICHAEL STÜRM, Jazz Podium (Germany)
Mike Pope is a musician no one in Europe has on their radar. This engaging music, based on a shared musical language, is highly dynamic and full of beautiful sounds when it comes to bassists in jazz. The American is one of many instrumentalists who primarily work as sidemen. When these musicians record an album themselves, it often holds its own against the big names. Even if Pope occasionally betrays the routine of a virtuoso studio musician,... read more
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