Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Benjamin Boone - The Poets Are Gathering
by Christa V, WCBN - Ann Arbor
This is an innovative album combining poetry and jazz together, the third of its kind that Boone has created. The two art forms have always been linked, and this is a great way to bring them back together. Essentially each song consists of a poet reading their work while jazz music plays as a backing track, turning the poetry into lyrics. All of the works chosen are powerful poems responding to current issues, particularly racism. The music... read more
Peter Erskine & The JAM Music Lab All-Stars - Vienna to Hollywood: Impressions of E.W. Korngold & Max Steiner
by George W Harris, Jazz Weekly
Drum mastermind Peter Erskine gives a salute to two Austrian music film composers that dominated the Golden Age of movies, namely Max Steiner and E.W. Korngold on this album that mixes jazz with string. A rich mid sized combo of Herwig Gradischnig/sax, Thomas Gansch/tp, Bertl Mayer/harm, Bob Sheppard/fl, Judd Miller/EVI, Andreas Vardy/g, Danny Grissett/p-arr, Thatiana Gomes-Fabricio Pereira/b, Flip Phillip/perc-vib, Brian Kilgore/perc and... read more
Flatland - Origin of Species
by Adam Greenburg, All Music Guide
A trio of musicians from Oregon working without one of the usual lead instruments can make for an interesting sound in the world of jazz. The fact that they're primarily electric and working on their own songs adds to that. The sound on Origin of Species is surprisingly atmospheric, working its way through sinuous grooves, long preludes, and the occasional punch of energy from Donald Corey's bass. The music, if comparable to anything, would have... read more
Carlos Vega - Art of the Messenger
by Paul Abella, WDCB, Chicago
Carlos Vega's Art of the Messenger might very well end up being a contender for one of my favorite albums of the year. And when you dissect the pieces, it's easy to understand why. First, start off with a who's who of young(ish) Jazz players in Chicago - Vega plays tenor sax and writes the songs. Victor Garcia is the trumpet player, Stu Mindeman is on piano, Josh Ramos is on bass and Xavier Breaker is playing the drums. Second, write some... read more
Jeff Johnson - The Art of Falling
by Dave Nathan, All Music Guide
This is the second album by Jeff Johnson for the Origin label, even though the first Free was recorded at a later date than this session. Using a quartet instead of a trio format, Johnson continues to explore facets of creative, modern jazz but in such a way as not to force listeners to dissociate themselves from the proceedings. While highly exploratory, there is sufficient symmetry and melody to make the music meaningful. Johnson is joined by... read more
Oscar Hernández & Alma Libre - Love the Moment
by Jim Hynes, Glide Magazine
Love the Moment with Oscar Hernández and Alma Libre is an ensemble recording by the bandleader of the three-time GRAMMY® Winning Spanish Harlem Orchestra. One of the true giants of Latin jazz, the composer and pianist joins with Justo Almario on saxophone/flute, Oskar Cartaya on bass, Jimmy Branly on drums, Christian Moraga on percussion, and special guests Gilbert Castellanos on trumpet and Dayren Santamaria on violin on ten Hernández... read more
Chris Walden & the LMR Jazz Orchestra feat. Tierney Sutton & Kurt Elling - Missa Iubileum Aureum: Golden Jubilee Jazz Mass
by Dr. Debra Jan Bibel, Amazon
The Christian mass has been performed by jazz musicians before, such as Vince Guaraldi's The Grace Cathedral Concert, Dimitri Matheny's jazz/classical hybrid Spiritu Sancto/the New Millennium Mass, and Wynton Marsalis's The Abyssinian Mass, but a fully jazz big band treatment with soloists, chorus, and organ for the Catholic Latin mass is new. Missa Iubeleum Aureum immediately catches attention with its... read more
Bobby Broom - Upper West Side Story
by Ken Dryden, All Music
One of the top guitarists of his generation, Bobby Broom's preferred setting is a small group, while he excels in the demanding trio setting with bassist Dennis Carroll and drummer Kobie Watkins (with Makaya McCraven replacing him on three songs). Upper West Side Story includes nine originals, none of which is likely to become a jazz standard, but all of which are stimulating. "D's Blues" has an engaging hard bop hook that pulls the listener in... read more
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