Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Anthony Branker & Imagine - What Place Can Be for Us?
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect
The esteemed composer Anthony Branker returns with his 8th release on the Origin label, where 10 pieces surround the idea of 'place' and how it pertains to inclusion and belonging, and he's got a large cast of players for the passionate, rhythmic affair.
"The Door Of No Return" starts the listen with Alison Crockett's expressive spoken word alongside Donald Edwards' frisky drums and Pete McCann's spirited guitar that's complemented by... read more
Grete Skarpeid - Beyond Other Stories
by Bjorn Sandnes, Avisa Hordaland (Norway)
Cinderella story
The story of how Grete Skarpeid released her debut album "My Songs" at the age of 59 is almost like a Cinderella story. She and the Cuban jazz pianist Arúan Ortiz met after a concert he had played in Voss Jazz Club in Gamlekinoen. He caught sight of Skarpeid, sat down with her and wanted to talk. He invited for wine. And they talked about music. When she was about to leave, he asked:
- Do you sing?
Then he heard some... read more
Shawn Purcell - Oblivity
by Editor, Modern Drummer
Oblivity (both the song and the entire record) comes out of the gate screaming, saxophonist Walt Weiskopf and pianist Chris Ziemba set the tone, and drummer Steve Fidyk is manning the ship at every twist and turn. By the time Purcell's guitar enters the mood has been set, and Purcell takes it into fifth gear, while Fidyk's solo over a vamp ups the ante. Purcell's guitar tone is different on "Lazy Day Reverie," "Oblivity," it walks a fine line... read more
Scenes - Destinations
by George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly
The trio Scenes consists of cool-toned John Stowell/g, bassist Jeff Johnson and drummer John Bishop, and they bring together a collection of lithe originals and impressionistic jazz standards. Of the latter, Stowell exudes spaciousness and timber akin to vintage Jim Hall on the ESP-ish "Solar" while the team gets a bit bluesy on an indigo'd "You and the Night and the Music." Bishop, armed with brushes and conversant style, is more like a... read more
James Moody - 80 Years Young: Live at the Blue Note, March 26, 2005
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect
The inimitable flutist and tenor saxophone legend James Moody celebrated his 80th birthday in 2025 with these 8 lively tracks that welcome an excellent cast.
After a quick introduction by George Wein, "Benny's From Heaven" starts the listen with Todd Coolman's frisky bass plucking and Moody's rich sax complementing Adam Nussbaum's frisky drums, and "Cherokee" follows with David Hazeltine's mature keys amid Moody's dreamy flute for the... read more
Chris Walden Big Band - Full-On!
by Jack Goodstein, Blogcritics.org
It's been seven years since the last big band album from composer/arranger Chris Walden, the Kurt Marti Suite for big band and choir-much too long. But if it takes waiting that long for an album as fine as the newly released Full-On!, how can you complain? Los Angeles-based Walden has busied himself conducting and arranging for artists as diverse as Neil Young, Stevie Wonder, Diana Krall and Rihanna, and a raft of others - so... read more
Anthony Branker & Other Ways of Knowing - Manifestations of a Diasporic Groove & Spirit
by Editor, Modern Drummer
I am always intrigued and interested when a composer or arranger leads a recording date without playing an instrument of the recording. Composer and
Musical Director Dr. Anthony Branker is one such composer, and he has created a recording inspired by voices and perspectives representing communities that have been overlooked or deemed unimportant. Branker's music is very modern and very composed, at times reminding me of the music of Andrew... read more
Charlie Ballantine - East by Midwest
by Dan McClenaghan, All About Jazz
4 STARS
A bracing guitar/bass/drums trio outing from guitarist Charlie Ballantine, East by Midwest, sounds as if it was recorded in a large, high-ceilinged warehouse with a cement floor, that floor buffed into the next dimension to a high polish, this giving the music a beautiful resonance. Retro? Think Link Wray or Dick Dale and The Deltones. Modernistic? Think John Abercrombie on some of his early ECM Records efforts. Or... read more
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