A lot of us jazz fans cut our listening teeth on Blue Note records by Horace Silver, Art Blakey, Lee Morgan and more. The Dynamic Les DeMerle Band's Hittin' the Blue Notes, Vol. 2 celebrates that classic sound with a set of swinging, hard-driving hard bop tunes.
Les DeMerle sat in the drummer's chair in the Harry James Orchestra for twelve years, and he brings to this project an exuberant and swinging propulsion, a crisp and brightly... read more
**** 4-Stars
Pianist Hal Galper's overhauled piano approach, which he calls "rubato," is in full effect on his latest trio outing, Trip The Light Fantastic. Galper's partners, bassist Jeff Johnson and drummer John Bishop, are perfectly suited for rubato playing, which involves stretching and manipulating tempo, form, harmony and meter. Melodies are often disguised and deconstructed, time and phrasing are morphed like... read more
5-STARS Jovino Santos Neto: A Brazilian Jazz Master's First Seattle Chapter.
Jovino Santos Neto stands as one of the most commanding figures in contemporary Brazilian jazz. Pianist, composer, arranger, and three-time Latin Grammy nominee, he is among the most significant Brazilian musicians of his generation. Now based in Seattle, Washington, his career has been profoundly shaped by his long-standing association with the legendary... read more
The inimitable pianist Dawn Clement is joined by Buster Williams and Matt Wilson for these soulful 8 tracks of originals and covers.
"Outstretch", by Clement, starts and radiates dynamic interplay between thumping drums and lively bass, and "Monk's Dream", by Thelonious Monk, follows with the bright keys amid frisky drumming and bouncy bass lines.
Deeper into the listen, "Tokudo" uses Williams' animated bass alongside the colorful keys,... read more
It's funny how you have to read the liner notes to understand how this instrumental jazz can pack in so much politics and observation on the human condition without any vocals. The joys of impressionistic music. Before getting down to the diatribes, the trumpeter hooks up with Orrin Evans piano trio and the sparks fly, maybe because the players understood what lurked beneath (or maybe just because they are smoking players). No matter how you... read more
Trumpeter Jared Hall's new release, Hometown, is an engaging and assured album that successfully blends the warmth and lyricism of cool jazz without ever feeling complacent. Rooted in reflection but propelled by a modern sensibility, it's a record that values tone, interplay, and a collective spirit that runs through the whole recording.
Hall has spent years building his voice across diverse jazz scenes, from the Midwest to the... read more
"Cycling", the debut release by the Upper Left Trio is an absolutely stunning CD. The piano trio is the most basic of the jazz group configurations, but its simplicity inherently increases the difficulty in producing music that is either particularly innovative or engaging, for all but the most casual jazz listener. However, with this recording the Upper Left Trio � consisting of Charlie Doggett on drums, Clay Giberson on piano and Jeff Leonard... read more
4-STARS In an era when most jazz vocalists seem to chase innovation through phrasing acrobatics or pop-inflected crossovers, Paul Marinaro's new double album feels almost radical in its restraint. The Chicago baritone approaches Duke Ellington's canon not as a museum piece but as a living, breathing songbook, reimagined through thirteen of today's leading arrangers, yet rendered with a reverence that evokes the golden age of the American... 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