Origin Records Reviews



Idit Shner - Minerva
by Nicholas May, The Saxophonist Magazine

When it comes to the saxophone, or any instrument, it is uncommon for an artist to be well versed in two very different generes. Dr. Idit Shner, Associate Professor of Saxophone and Jazz Studies at the University of Oregon, has established herself as a multi-talented, bilingual saxophonist across her numerous classical and jazz albums. Although I have not yet listened to her full discography, I certainly will be!

The album's title comes... read more

Anthony Branker & Ascent - Blessings
by John Barron, All About Jazz

Composer/arranger Anthony Branker and his ensemble Ascent follow up on the critically acclaimed release Spirit Songs (Sons of Sound, 2006) with Blessings, a spirited collection of progressive jazz. The music was composed during a residency Branker participated in at the Estonian Academy of Music where he represented the United States as a Fulbright Scholar. The recording features a first-rate cast of east coast heavy-hitters.

The disc's... read more

Piet Verbist Zygomatik - Cattitude
by Jan van Leersum, Roots Time (Belgium)

Piet Verbist (bs) studied at the Conservatory of Brussels, where he was taught by, among others Hein van de Geyn and Dave Holland. He played in many groups such as the Ben Sluijs Quartet, Trio Ancesthree, Jan de Haas Quintet eva But he is best known as the bassist of the Jef Neve Trio, his first CD came out on Verbist's label contour. But it is with his own group Zygomatik that he completely lost his egg can we hear an energetic mix of jazz,... read more

Sarah Partridge - Bright Lights and Promises: Redefining Janis Ian
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record

If Partridge wasn't the art chick with loads extra, we'd have to be scratching our heads wondering why a jazz tribute to Janis Ian. Well, Partridge brings in Allen Farnham to help with the music and brings in Ian herself to co-write some new ones. Take that homage makers! Long after you've taken Ian for granted, this revival does more than pump air into her lungs. Making music and taking risks? What a concept. Turn your ears Partridge's... read more

David Friesen Circle 3 Trio - Triple Exposure
by Brian Zimmerman, Downbeat

EDITOR'S PICK, DEC, '16 David Friesen's new album with his Circle 3 Trio is a deeply personal statement, from the clean, stimulating compositions that form the bulk of the disc to the original mixed-media collage that adorns the cover. As such, the music here feels buttressed by the support of real life experience, and almost always the listener gets the sense that highly individuated musical concepts are in play. The group wrestles... read more

Roxy Coss - Restless Idealism
by Jack Bowers, All About Jazz

Roxy Coss was inspired to name the second album as leader of her own group Restless Idealism after reading a passage by Hunter S. Thompson in The Rum Diary, in which he weighs the tension between "a restless idealism on one hand and a sense of impending doom on the other." While Coss, as a working musician, has wrestled with both sides of that equation, she weighs anchor essentially on the shore of idealism, a point of view that is reflected... read more

Jessica Williams - With Love
by Brent Black, Critical Jazz

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication and that is Jessica Williams!

Jessica Williams is a critically acclaimed pianist that has the reputation and the ability to go deep. Thanks to the misfortune of two rather serious health battles which she has documented and spoken of in great detail, Williams has embraced the lost art of melody with a string of sublime recordings on the consistently excellent Origin label. With Love is... read more

Carlos Vega - Bird's Up
by George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly

Muscular-toned tenor saxist and composer Carlos Vega puts together a beefy post-bop quintet with Victor Garcia/tp-f, Stu Mindeman/p-key, Josh Ramos/b and Xavier Breaker/dr. He rotates between hip soul sounds with his Rhodes on pieces like the funky "On A Mission" and hip "Los Osos Grandiosos," and tongue in grove boppers like the title track and intricate "Curve Ball." Vega's tone his Rollins-strong, while Garcia is bel canto and with an... read more

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