Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Roxy Coss - Restless Idealism
by Michael J. West, Jazztimes
Tenor saxophonist Roxy Coss is a protege of trumpeter Jeremy Pelt, and on the 10 original compositions that make up Restless Idealism, it shows. Among other things she shares with Pelt (who appears on two tracks) are fondnesses for elaborate linear melodies and shifting times, and an eagerness to play with short-form conventions.
Not that Restless Idealism is far out: Actually, it's quite straight-ahead postbop. Coss and... read more
David Friesen Circle 3 Trio - Interaction
by Fred Grand, Jazz Journal (London)
I don't think it would be unkind to describe 77-year old David Friesen as an under-sung giant of the post-bop era. Adding his considerable musical muscle to several classics in waiting from the 70s by Joe Henderson, Billy Harper and Kenny Drew, he went on to tour with Sam Rivers, Paul Horn, Stan Getz and Dannie Richmond amongst others. With the help of John Stowell and Paul McCandless he was a prime mover in a gentler and more folk-inflected... read more
Dave Slonaker Big Band - Shifty Paradigms
by Scott Yanow, Los Angeles Jazz Scene
Arranger-composer Dave Slonaker has led his big band in Southern California for 15 years. The 16-17 piece orchestra is filled with major names who are not only impeccable section players but top-notch soloists. But while there is solo space on the eight selections on Shifty Paradigms for all but two of the musicians, it is Slonaker's arrangements that give this big band its own personality.
Dave Slonaker supplied all of the arrangements and... read more
Western Jazz Collective - Dark Journey: The Music of Andrew Rathbun
by George Kanzler, THE NEW YORK CITY JAZZ RECORD
If jazz is "the sound of surprise," then the septet (sometimes octet with guest percussion on some tracks) Western Jazz collective definitely delivers. Dark Journey (The Music of Andrew Rathbun) features multireed player Rathbun's kaleidoscopic compositions, works far from the conventional 32-bar or 12-bar tunes that dominate the jazz canon. his pieces unspool like skeins of multi-colored and textured threads that weave complex forms. Many of... read more
Nanami Haruta - The Vibe
by Thomas Conrad, New York City Jazz Record
Hot new trombonists don't hit town nearly as often as bad-asses on trumpet or saxophone. That's why Nanami Haruta is news. The Vibe, her debut as a leader, reveals that she has it all: crisp articulation, pure intonation, fresh ideas and quick-on-quick reflexes. She also sounds enthusiastic and supremely confident (her level of chops instills poise). These days serious jazz talent can come from anywhere on the planet. Haruta is from Sapporo,... read more
Diverse - Diverse
by Rudolf Radnai, Muszer Oldal - Budapest
Translated from Hungarian
Six young musicians: HERMON MEHARI (trumpet), William Sanderson (tenor sax), John Brewer (piano, Rhodes), Ben Leifer (bass), Ryan LEE (drums), Bobby Watson (sax) This consists of the band in 2008 with another 10 before winning the Origin Records / Gene Harris Jazz Festival Competition-T. The disc is played in your compositions. The number 12 is a young experimental momentum band presents their music with hip hop,... read more
Anthony Branker - Beauty Within
by Dan McClenaghan, All About Jazz
The "Rising Star" status isn't confined to fresh music school graduates. Dr. Anthony Branker, Educator - who, for twenty-seven years, was engaged in a big way with Princeton University's jazz program - has achieved a recent "rising star" tag as a composer. This after releasing seven top notch CDs for Origin Records, including the masterful Uppity (2013).
"Composer/Musical Director" is Branker's title on his recordings. He doesn't... read more
Collier & Dean - Sleek Buick
by George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly
Here's a fun loving disc from the Pacific Northwest. From Seattle, vibist Tom Collier and bassist Dan Dean bring together a varied and variegated collection of winsome and pulsating sounds that mix and match diverse instruments as dobro, ukulele, mandolin and fiddle as well as the normal collection of guitars, drums and reeds.
Intricate yet swinging material such as the title track have Andy Leftwich on fiddle and mandolin veering in and... read more
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