Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
Ziggurat Quartet - Calculated Gestures
by Nenim Iwebuke, Afropop Worldwide
Nigerian-born, London-raised, Brooklyn-based saxophonist, composer and producer Zem Audu is no novice to the music industry. While working closely with notable names like Hugh Masekela, Jason Moran and Lauryn Hill over the years, the Skatalites band member has ingested a variety of genres: contemporary jazz, ska, reggae, funk, soul and r&b.
Zem's new album, Spirits (Origin Records), is a fusion of his life experiences: his roots in... read more
Anthony Branker & Ascent - Spirit Songs
by George Harris, Jazz Weekly
Composer and musical director Anthony Branker mixes some rich harmonies with a rhythm team led by Ralph Peterson/jr/dr, John Benitez/b and Jonny King/p along with a front line of Clifford Adams, Jr/tb and the saxes of Ralph Bowen/ts-ss and Antonio Hart/as-ss. He's released other albums with bands named Imagine and Wordplay; each album is consistent in its rich harmonies, original concepts and successful mix of head and heart.
The blending of... read more
Nnenna Freelon - Beneath the Skin
by Tessa Souter, The New York City Jazz Record
Nnenna Freelon's folk-infused Beneath the Skin (Origin) is a deeply autobiographical work, rooted in grief and transformation. The album addresses three profound personal losses: her late husband, renowned architect Phil Freelon; her sister, Debbie; and the family dog, Basie. Acclaimed as a gifted jazz interpreter, Freelon shows herself here as a powerful songwriter and storyteller, channeling grief into a body of work that is both raw ("Widow... read more
Rich Thompson - Less Is More
by Jack Goldstein, Blogcritics.org
Less is More, Rich Thompson?s sequel to last year?s trio album Generations, has the drummer following the same general formula in the choice of material, but now working with a larger ensemble. Straightforward modern harmonies, driven by dynamic percussion, applied to a mixed repertoire of jazz classics interspersed with a few original pieces is the recipe. Like they say, if it?s not broken, don?t mess with it.
Thompson, a music educator who... read more
Greta Matassa - Portrait
by Paul de Barros, Seattle Times
Album releases by Greta Matassa and Kelley Johnson show two Seattle jazz singers at the top of their game
Two artists indelibly linked to Tula's Restaurant & Jazz Club, which is closing at the end of this month, are Seattle's best female jazz singers — Greta Matassa and Kelley Johnson — who both celebrated the release of new albums at the club this summer. Where they will debut their next albums is an open question, but in... read more
Dana Hall - Into the Light
by Brad Walseth, JazzChicago.net
Dana Hall is such a respected musician and educator on the Chicago (and NYC) scene that it is hard to believe that his debut album has only recently been released by Origin Records. Into the Light presents a mature and thoughtful drummer/composer and his top-notch quintet performing songs that blend great classic sounds from the 1960s with modern directions. Hall provides most of the compositions and says he looked at drummer/band leaders like... read more
Brad Goode - Polytonal Dance Party
by Douglas Lockard, International Trumpet Guild
Jazz trumpeter Brad Goode has achieved success as both a performer and educator (University of Colorado), and this adventurous 2008 release demonstrates his desire to continue to push the harmonic envelope. As the title of the recording suggests, every tune is written or arranged using poly- chordal harmonies. Although the sound of polytonal harmony is initially jarring, the musicians navigate through the potentially dangerous harmonic landscape... read more
Chris Walden Big Band - No Bounds
by Fred Bouchard, Downbeat, December 2006
Arms-wide embraces and straightforward voicings mark the squeaky-clean but silky-smooth style of trumpeter and film and TV composer Walden. A cast of 60-plus with international guests wail these tight-as-a-cricket charts and take brisk solos. Tierney Sutton sings Peggy Lee straight-arrow on "People Will Say We're In Love" as trombonist Bob McChesney goes wild. The album features Walden's spacious, seamless charts, but offers few surprises:... read more
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