With Another Morning (Origin), Matt Jorgensen+451 continue their pathbreaking combination of jazz, rock, and funk, all without succumbing to the excesses of yore: aimless solos, straitjacketed arrangements, and second-rate riffs. My favorite track, "Lock Down," begins with Ryan Burns laying down some serene electric piano chords but a sequence of ascending harmonies takes over, giving the tune a yearning, Pet Sounds?era Brian Wilson feel. Fine... read more
In his infinite wisdom, drummer Rich Thompson brought in Terell Stafford for this recording session. Stafford has slowly but surely become one of the preeminent jazz trumpeters, stealing the show as a sideman on a number of CDs, not to mention his own most recent release, This Side of Strayhorn. Thompson also showed great care in formulating the song list for Less is More, mixing originals and standards with far-from-overdone tunes by Kenny... read more
With this Origin label release, the fruitful Northwest music scene continues to manifest high caliber jazz music sessions. This time it's the 8 year-old trio of John Bishop, Jeff Johnson and Rick Mandyck enhanced by guitarist John Stowell, for more than an hour of modern and progressive jazz. The play list is certainly an attractive one combining three originals with standard and jazz classics. Stowell. who worked with David Friesen for seven... read more
When your favorite tunes are those like "Pusherman", you'll find long hours of listening ahead in Marc's excellent keyboards on this great release! He's joined by guitarist Fred Hamilton, bassist Jeff Johnson, with Dave Captein on electric bass & Gary Hobbs on drums & they can COOK it! The other great thing about the recording is that it's all done right here on my home turf; a January 2015 release that you'll just want in your... read more
If one had to choose a solitary word to describe Universal Mind, it would have to be "pensive." Homeported in the Hague, AsGuests was founded some fifteen years ago by vibraphonist Herak and pianist Vanoucek as a duo that eventually evolved into a quartet with a revolving cast of guest artists to augment the ensemble. Here they add a string trio to perform eight compositions written by the pianist. Except for "Solace Cells" and "Guanc,"... read more
Michigan bassist Rodney Whitaker gives tribute to the pen of fellow statesman Gregg Hill on this classy post bop album teaming the leader with Xavier Davis/p, Dana Hall-Randy Gelispie/dr, Diego Rivera-Marcus Elliot/sax, Randy Napoleon/g, Michael Dease/tb, Etienne Charles/tp and Rockelle Whitaker. The result is a lyrical mix of moods that keep a smile on your face. Ms Whitaker soulfully struts with Rivera's tenor on "New Sunday" and blossoms on... read more
****
Ambivalence and shadowplay suffuse this intriguing album by Seattle-based piano guru Anschell. Jeff Coffin's querulous soprano saxophone launches the medium-tempo title track, one of the most conversational on this engaging CD. The soloists vary, but the qualities of surprise and confidence always figure here. In addition to originals spanning the piquant "Heisenberg's Fugue State" and "39F," a tricky exercise verging on pop,... read more
She's a vocalist at times, but it's her ability on the piano that sets Dawn Clement apart from the crowd. The songs chosen for this, her sophomore album as a bandleader, are largely from the realm of the jazz torch song, but with a handful of original compositions and a few surprises thrown in. Clement has a tiny, gentle singing voice ? definitely youthful but with something of the breathy, kittenish quality of Portishead's Beth Gibbons as well.... 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