Browse some recent Origin Reviews.
EEA - The Dark
by Ken Dryden, All Music Guide
EEA are a trio of jazz faculty members at the University of Nevada, Reno, consisting of saxophonist Peter Epstein, trumpeter Larry Engstrom, and pianist David Ake. The lack of additional rhythm instruments gives the players both plenty of freedom and responsibility, which they handle well. The trio's three group improvisations stand out with potent interplay, with the first sounding as if it could be used as a film soundtrack. Ake composed six... read more
Jessica Williams - With Love
by Dan McClenaghan, All About Jazz
Successful musicians play "the truth." If you want to hear some truth there are certain artists you can seek out. Thelonious Monk couldn't play anything but the truth, right from the beginning. Pianist Jessica Williams came upon the truth - a purer form of it, at least - after experiencing "the fix of Illness" that she has discussed on her website and in interviews. Her first "fix" came about via her struggle with hypothyroidism, and... read more
Ray Vega & Thomas Marriott - Return of the East-West Trumpet Summit
by George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly
Ray Vega and Thomas Marriott make up a two pronged battering ram as they bring their trumpets to the front line along with a soulful rhythm team of George Colligan/B3 and Matt Jorgenson/dr. Jorgenson lays down the groove for some hard bopping blowers such as "The Egyptian" and the ride cymbal snapping "United" that includes staccato hand claps to keep the ride bustling. The horns have fun with the shuffle boogie of a soul-filled "The Bourgeoloo"... read more
Phil Kelly & The SW Santa Ana Winds - My Museum
by Rick Culver, www.jazzradio247.com
Having been fortunate enough to be a member of so many of the greatest jazz bands, let me begin this review by stating that I sure wish I'd been a member of this one. This band list is definitely a who's who of the best musicians in Los Angeles, jazz or studio: jazz for the inventiveness of the solos and swing of the music, and studio for the technical ability of the musicians, or as Phil put it: "There wasn't time for a rehearsal�we�put the ink... read more
Scott Reeves - Portraits and Places
by Staff, Jazziz
Multi-instrumentalist, composer and educator Scott Reeves assembled his Jazz Orchestra eight years ago, but has just gotten around to recording with them. During that time, the City College of New York professor, who also taught at Juilliard among other prestigious institutions, has honed his big band's sound and the works he's written for them. The thrilling results can be heard on Portraits and Places (Origin), the Scott Reeves Jazz... read more
Richard Cole - Shade
by Adam Greenberg, All Music Guide
Shade is an outstanding album of contemporary jazz from (mostly) tenor saxman Richard Cole. This album opens with a bang and a slightly larger ensemble in something of a tribute to Joe Henderson. Cole, as well as trumpeters Thomas Marriott and Randy Brecker, take some outstanding solos here. In pianist Bill Anschell's composition "Moxy," the band slims down to a quartet and combines a frenetic piano with Monk-inspired horns. A Fender Rhodes is... read more
Rodney Whitaker - Mosaic: The Music of Gregg Hill
by Editor, Modern Drummer
Origin Records is owned and run by a couple of drummers, and they have been putting out some very nice recordings, and here's another to add to the list. Rodney Whitaker is a world-renowned bassist, arranger, and professor of
jazz studies. Gregg Hill is an under-recognized composer. Together they have put out three wonderful records, and this is number four. In Chicago, every musician knows Chicago drummer Dana Hall. He is doing the drumming... read more
Metropolitan Jazz Octet - The Bowie Project
by Jeff Cebulski, Chicago Jazz Magazine
Like so many others, I was bummed when the artistically mercurial David Bowie died seven years ago. While I was not too familiar with his expansive oeuvre, I had been attracted to many performances, especially from the 1980's on. His theatricality and attention to production were so professional that I could tolerate his varying personae in appreciation of the Artist.
But much of his music escaped me. That's why I was inspired to learn more... read more
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