Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Ray LeVier - Ray's Way
by Thomas Conrad, JazzTimes, May 2009
Lots of young musicians go out and get some established people to play on their debut recordings as leaders. Ray LeVier got strong ones: Joe Locke on vibes, either John Abercrombie or Mike Stern on guitar, Dave Binney on alto saxophone and Francois Moutin on bass. But very few debut albums create such tight, committed, synergistic ensembles. This band should go on tour. The only question would be which guitarist to bring. Abercrombie, who... read more
Wellstone Conspiracy - Motives
by Adam Greenberg, All Music Guide
The mostly Seattle-based quartet Wellstone Conspiracy originally formed from notables on the Seattle scene backing up Idaho-based sax player Brent Jensen on a 2006 album. With their sophomore release, the group formed a more democratic name and continued their deep presentation of Northwest jazz at its purest. There's a careful interplay between the classic sorts of sounds encapsulating the urban nightclub aesthetic and more open, smooth, and... read more
Geoff Stradling - Les is Mo'
by R.D. Wood, Amazon
Geoff Stradling is a highly accomplished composer, arranger, and musician living in Los Angeles. This is his debut work as a group leader and it is superb. Stradling is composer of unusual and original melodies and arrangements that are thoughtful, intelligent, and emotive. All compositions are by Stradling except "Stella by Starlight", presented here in an unexpected and pleasing arrangement that transforms the tune. The other players here are... read more
Ben Paterson - For Once In My Life
by George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly
B3 player Ben Patterson keeps the keys warm and supple here, forming a nifty trio with Peter Bernstein/g and George Fludas/dr. He has a soft touch on the keys, preferring to let the speakers hum instead of cry, and it works well on this mix of originals and soulful covers. The team percolates on Ray Bryant's "Cubano Chant" and shows its blues hues on the rarely explored read of Sonny Rollins' "Decision." Bernstein is his usual adroit self on the... read more
Clarence Penn - Monk: The Lost Files
by Hobert Taylor, KUCI - Irvine, CA
Drummer Penn along with the amazing Chad Lefkowitz-Brown on Sax, tears apart and puts back together Monk's greatest hits like William Burroughs when he cut up and reconstructed text. Like "Naked Lunch", this re-construction is revelatory. Particularly successful are "In Walked Bud", "Bemsha Swing","Rhythm-A-Ning" and Penn's sole original "Solato's... read more
Tom Collier - Alone in the Studio
by George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly
Tom Collier plays vibes, marimba, piano, drums and bass synthesizer all by his lonesome on this mix of standards and originals. He's a one man band on the bouncy take of "Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise" and the deftly swinging "Five Brothers" and can create a full bodied funk on his own "Orbital Dance." His vibes can glow and chime on "Little Green Thing" and "Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most" while on marimba he sets a nice mood on the... read more
Don Lanphere - Where Do You Start?
by Paul de Barros, Seattle Times, February 23, 2003
It takes a lifetime to be able to play the eight-bar solo that saxophonist Don Lanphere delivers on the title tune of this gently autumnal album. Lanphere, who hails originally from Wenatchee, came up as a wild and wailing bebopper, recording in New York with Fats Navarro and Max Roach before he was 20.
But Lanphere's swashbuckling lines, slurred attack, and achingly vulnerable, lowing tone always betrayed his swing roots. The romance of same... read more
Dawn Clement - Delight
by George W Harris, Jazz Weekly
Pianist and vocalist Dawn Clement forms a satisfying trio with all-stars Buster Williams on bass and drummer Matt Wilson for a mix of post bopping instrumentals and indie-oriented vocals. Her voice has a folksy reflection to it, as on the Randy Newman-ish "Forgive Me" and a Blossom Dearie take of Elvis Costello's "Someone Took The Words". She has an easy touch as she tickles the ivories on a bouncy "Elders' Holiday" and has fun around the... read more
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